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SIEGE OF MONTEREY:! 



% 5?iJi$m< 



BY W. C. FALKNEE. 



-< ■^•^ » 



CINCINNATI: 

PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR. 
1851. 




Tnstpa.d of wear'.ng petticoats, a<! inost clarn^eia dc 
jt^bal wears n pj-ir oi bocia ar. i irowsera too, 



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PREFACE. 



I DEEM it necessary to write a few lines 
of explanation as regards a few rhymes I 
have seen proper to compose, in which I 
allude to my enemies, who are anything 
but few. 

I have been persecuted, and hunted 
down like a savage wild beast, and at 
every corner, instead of meeting friendship 
sweet, I find deadly foes, ready to take 
advantage when they find me unarmed. 
When that unfortunate rencounter occurred 
betv/een myself and Mr. H., which resulted 
in his death, he, I believe, was instigated 
by a certain cowardly clan to take my life, 
and not from any malice which he bore 
against me. I found a certain individual 
going around the streets trying to turn 
public feeling against me, and taking every 
undue advantage of my situation that he 
could. But, in my own heart, I had for- 
given him for all this, and thoug^ht perhaps 



his enmity toward me had ceased. But, 
alas, when the second affray occurred, 
which resulted in the death of Mr. M., 
ao-ainst whom I bore no ill-feelino-s, as 
God is my judge, I again find the same 
individual canvassing the streets, trying as 
before to excite the community against 
me ; and I was credibly informed that he 
even electioneered with the venire after 
they were summoned to try me. I have 
forborne to give his name in full, for 
the very reason that I am determined to 
have no difficulty if it can be avoided. I 
have been held up to the public as an un- 
feeling and blood-thirsty demon, ready at 
all times to thrust myself into a quarrel. 
'Tis true, I have taken the life of two of 
my fellow-beings, whose lives were as dear 
to them as mine is to me. I have stood 
my trial before an earthly tribunal, and 
will stand another before the shining 
throne of God, where I shall be judged 
according to the intents of my heart. It 
was very currently circulated that I should 
have said I took deliberate aim at the face 
of Mr. M.; and that, too, by the very same 
individual alluded to above, which was as 
base and unfounded a falsehood as ever 
escaped the lips of a black-hearted sland- 
erer. I say to any of my foes, if I have 
wronged you, come up like men and de- 
nj^nd satisfaction ; and if I can muster 



up courao-e, you shall have it; and if I 
fail, you can glory in your triumph. He 
who sneaks behind the curtain and stabs 
at a man's reputation, is worse than he 
who stabs at the heart. 

Shortly after the rencounter between 
myself and Mr. H., I had occasion to be 
traveling through the country, near Ripley, 
and was overtaken by night, and a tre- 
mendous storm at the same time. I came 
to the house of a widow lady, and inquired 
if I could remain at her house during the 
night. She said I could. Her son, a lad 
about eighteen years of age, came and 
took my horse, and I walked into the 
house. As soon as I entered, she inquired 
my name. I told her it was Falkner. — 
" Leave my house this instant, you black- 
hearted murderer," stormed the old lady 
at the top of her voice. *' My house is no 
place to shelter murderers." She com- 
manded her son to saddle my horse, and 
threatened to set the dogs on me if I did 
not leave instantly. "What," said she, 
** you, that unfeeling demon, who took 
Mr. H. to dine with you, then took him 
out and assassinated him — you expect to 
find shelter under my roof? No, I had 
rather give shelter to Satan himself." So 
soon as I got an opportunity to slip in a 
word edgcAvise, I asked her who had given 
her all this information, *'A very re- 



8 PREFACE. 

spectable gentleman, Mr. P. of Ripley," 
answered she. I told her I had the testi- 
mony in that case, in the handwriting of 
the Hon. H. R. Miller, who occupied the 
bench when I was tried ; and that if she 
would suffer me to remain I would read it 
to her. With a great deal of reluctance, 
she agreed to listen to it ; and if it proved 
satisfactory, I was to remain ; otherwise, I 
was to seek shelter elsewhere. A candle 
was placed on the stand, and half a dozen 
of her children, with their eyes and mouths 
stretched wide open, took their seats 
around to hear the testimony, gazing on 
me all the while, as people do when in a 
menagerie. The family had all been to 
supper, and not a word was said to me 
about eating, notwithstanding I had not 
tasted food since breakfast. The old lady 
listened very attentively, until I finished 
reading, then sprang to her feet and beg- 
ged to be forgiven for the treatment which 
I had received. I told her she had done 
nothing wrong, that her author was the 
criminal. In less than twenty minutes, 
she prepared an excellent supper, and 
treated me with as much kindness as if I 
had been her own son. I only mention 
this little circumstance to show how this in- 
dividual is trying to sink me in the gulf of 
disgrace. I have the same testimony yet, 
which may be read by any who desire it. 



PRKFACE. 9 

I have written the history of the bloody- 
battle of Buena Vista, in poetry, which 
will be published soon. 

I hope I shall make no new enemies by 
my rhymes, for God knows I have a good 
supply on hand at present. 

FALKNER. 



THE 



SIEGE OF MOITEEEY: 



A POEM 



BY W. C. FALKNER 



CINCINNATI: 

PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR. 

1851. 






Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1851, by 

W. C. FALKNER, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District 
of Ohio. 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 


CANTO I. 
I. 



Come, ye tyrants and haughty kings. 

Stoop and listen here to little things; 

I seize my pen to write a little story 

Of love, loar, blood, lust, and glory. 

I will write of Taylor and his thunder — 

How he filled earth with awe and wonder. 

And all his gallant deeds, generally speaking — 

How he became President without his seeking. 

II. 
How he whipped Ampudia and Arista, 
And defeated Santa Anna, at BuenaYista; 
And, if I don't fail, 'tis my full intent 
To say something of Bragg, Bunch, and Brent, 
And a great many other heroes of fame, 
Whom I shall not take time here to name. 
I'll say something too of the fancy article. 
But deviate not from the truth a particle. 

III. 
I'll write plain, as I dislike to hint, 
I'll express my thoughts without stint; 
I write as I please, and speak what I think 
Though deep in ignominy I probably shall sink. 
To my foes, who are anything but few, 
A word I wish to say here now to you: 
You've hunted me down, like hounds of fury. 
And tried me twice for life by a jury; 

<3) 



4 ftlLGE Of MONTERKT. 

IV-. 

And still heard tlioy all thy hellish cries, 
Yet Avith thee I 'in willing to compromise; 
You have souglit my life and reputation too, 
But let me alone, I '11 do the same by you; 
Otherwise you sliall to your sorrow know, 
"Who conquers me sliall find a stubborn foe,' 
Tliat line is Lord Byron's, verbatim, 
I love not my foes, nor do I hate 'em; 



I pass 'em by as though they nothing were; 
Oi their characters I neitlier know nor care. 
Men have I known, by lookin<' to home affairs, 
Done Avell; they would do well to 'tend to theirs, 
I write not for renown or useless praise, — 
Great men are too common in modern days, — 
Neither do I scribble for infernal pelf. 
But I write merely to amuse myself. 

VI. 
And, if you don't like it as you should, 
Drop it, and see if you can write as good. 
If you don't read it, 'twon't hurt you, 
Nor contaminate your prudent virtue. 
Having no Pegasus, like poets of ancient song. 
No genii to waft me swift along, 
I shall make no attempt at sublimity. 
Lest I should lo,se my usual equanimity. 

VII. 
If I had a balloon I'd take a lofty flight. 
As I have none I'll keep the earth in sight; 
If I make enough of this to pay the printer, 
I'll write another poem next winter. 
I'll write about Scott, Pillow, and Bliss, 
As I shall write of Taylor, etc., in this; 
I'll also write of Captain Bragg and Wool, 
Of whose deeds is every newspaper full. 



STEGE OF MOXTEREY. I 

VIII. 

How they shook earth and hell around. 
And Satan was startled by the sound; 
How with panic liis honor was struck, 
While Ainpudia curs(!d Jiis Avretclied luck; 
How Mexico bled free at every pore, 
And earth sliook from shore to sliore; 
HoAV the brave Spaniartls kissed the dirt. 
And the coAvard lied wholly unhurt; 

IX. 

How cowardly Indianians vamosed the ranch, 
Some squatted behind stones, others hid iu ths 

branch; 
Some of Ihein fought very brave, 'tis true. 
But whom this fits must wear the shoe. 
Many v.ho fled lost tlieir coAvardly souls, 
Amonfr those who stood was Colonel Bowles, 
His aid to gallant Mississippi gave, 
Side by side fought Avith them brave. 

X. 

But the brave must wear the coward's shame, 
Cursed will ever be Indiaiia's wretched name, 
In her face the finger of scorn Avill ever thrust, 
But the shame is not altogether just; 
I dare not her honor to traduce, 
Brave heroes she may sometimes produce; 
Such men as I must keep a silent tongue, 
For no laurels on my brow are hung. 

xr. 

Full well I know the feeling of lead — 

I have never fought, but freely bled, 

Mexican soil hath drank my gore. 

But I disgrace, instead of glory, bore 

If I had got a chance to fight, 

I, too, might have took to flight; 

So I'll wear my disgrace without demurrage, 

No desire have I to test my courage. 



6 STEGE OF MONTEREY. 

XII. 

But I have a right to express an idea, 

And I'll do so, and that good and bona fide; 

I'm very wicked, 'tis true, at times. 

But I'll try to make religious rhymes; 

So you must not judge me an infidel, 

I believe there is a happy heaven and a hell; 

To one or the other ve'll certainly go, 

To dwell in eternal bliss or uucn(iing woe. 

XIII. 
I believe that God is supremely just, 
He'll receive me, I hope, when I sink to dust; 
But my hands are stained with human gore, 
But I hope on earth to shed no move. 
My country said I did precisely right, 
I'm clear in God's all-seeing sight. 
Self-preservation led me to it, and yet 
My soul is filled with deep regret. 

XIV. 
And oh! ye foes, how unfeeling ye are. 
Trying to drive me in deeper despair; 
As little as you I fear the pangs of death. 
But I cry for peace with my latest breath, 
And, if necessary, I'll defend my life, 
From a cannon down to a pocket-knife. 
'Tis true, we differ in our politics. 
But I interfere not with your tricks, 

XV. 

My soul is large, my abdomen's not so big, 

I'll wear disgrace, Mr. P., you wear your wig, 

And learn to let other men alone, — 

'Tend not to their business, look to thy own; 

The guilt be thine if you the war begin, 

I shall fight out once you force me in; 

Men seldom die more than once, 

A single death will satisfy even a duii«« 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. ( 

XVI. 

It sha'n't be truly said, that I 
Ever sought a quarrel or feared to die; 
I'd do right if other people would — 
I hope I shall die as a Cliristian shoiild; 
Not that I am a good Christian now. 
But I'll be one if God will allow; 

I know that I'm greatly the d I's abettor, 

But I will change my course to better. 

XYII. 
If God'll give me time, which I hope he'll do, 
I'll pray for myself and my enemies too; 
I'll pray for all the world In a single bunch, 
I'll ever pray for Dr. Foster and Tom Punch; 
But, poor man, his bark is very frail, 
He's nothing but an ape without a tail — 
The prayers of the wicked availeth not. 
That's tlie reason Tom Punch the d 1 got. 

XVIII. 

But it shall be my first and constant prayer. 
That my foes go to heaven and stay there; 
He who could bear malice prepense, 

Is a d n fool for want of sense, 

And if I should wish to have a little frolic. 
It don't imply that my motives are diabolic, 
For I am a little inclined to be religious, 
A small poetical sin is not so prodigious. 

XIX. 
I am in love, too, I must acknowledge, 
I learned the art at beauty's college; 
I am in love clear up to the nose. 
And want to marry so bad I'm nearly froze; 
When I lay down at night my thoug-lits are busy 
With the phantom of my angelic Lizzie; 
When in Morpheus's enibrace I'm sleeping. 
Her image comes around my pillow creeping; 



B 8IEGE or MOXTERET. 

XX. 

And when clouds of sorrow across me roll. 
And black tempests stir my soul, 
When from mine eves streams of sorrow flow. 
And my breast sunk deep in the gulf of woe, 
"When o'er my skies hangs trouble's cloud. 
And sorrow speaks lier thunder loud, 
And all around in piichy darkness hung. 
One sweet note from Lizzie's tongue, 

XXI. 
Or one single glance from her eye, 
Drives the clouds from my lonely sky. 
And dashes trouble from my breast, 
And hdls my raging waves to rest. 
Rank finds no worshiper at all in me, 
I to modest beauty bow the humble knee; 
To kneel at the shrine of modest beauty 
Shall be }ny first and latest duty. 

XXTI. 

Something sacred meets us always there. 
Holy the ground and divine the air 
On which they breatlie, on which they move. 
But a fearful thing is woman's love; 
Woman's lieart is a very curious trick, 
'Tis often broke at a single lick, 
And. once broke, is never mended, 
But their happiness is forever ended. 

XXIII. 

They often love objects to great devotion, 
Which often proves the deathly potion; 
'Tis wrong, oh! man, to use them so. 
For they were made for us, you know — 
Flesh very tender and faces very neat. 
Languishing eyes and lips so sweet, 
Divine they are, in heaven's estimation, 
Man's image — with a slight variation. 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 



XXIV 



'Tis from her eye the tear of pity flows, 
They make us happy and share our woes; 
They were not made for man's abuse, 
But they were made for a special use; 
'Tis true 'twas woman that plunged us in 
The unfathomable gulf of woes and sin; 
'Taves woman that did the apple take, 
Which she oughtn't to, from the snake, 

xxv. 

'Twas very wrong to do so, you'll allow-^ 
Offer the same fruit and they'll take it now: 
Show them the fruit in such a bower. 
To resist the temptation they haven't power— 
At first appear to be extremely bold, 
But yield they will, like Eve of old; 
To yield at the first charge they don't 
Consent, always swear they won't; 

XXVI. 
Xot to consent they'll swear to you. 
Yet consent they most always do; 
So Eve herself in the garden did. 
Then, for shame, in figs she hid; 
While tears of woe from her eyes were flowing 
She took her needle and went to sewing. 
And of fig leaves made a dress 
To hide her shame and nakedness. 

XXVII. 
Let millions of years be spent in woe. 
Let briny tears in big oceans flow. 
Heaven may weep and hell may grin. 
Yet neither can wipe out the awful sin; 
The crime is done, the decree is passed, 
Which shall fill hell with souls at last, 
And heaven shall weep to see tlie grief 
But dare not attempt to grant relief. 



10 SIEGE OF MOXTERF.T. 

XXVIII. 

To the crowds of souls who in myriads go 
Kusliing to the iron gates of hell below, 
For that awful sin committed by mother Eve, 
We must ever weep and ever grieve; 
Let old Cyntliia her course always run, 
Let the globe revolve around the sun, 
Let worlds sink, whole empires rise. 
Let beauty hang over the quiet skies, 

XXIX. 

Let earth tremble from pole to polo, 
Let bitter tears in briny oceans roll. 
Let Gabe l»low his unwelcome sound, 
And rock the earth and hell around. 
Let planets to shine stop and cease, 
Let nations make war and happy peace, 
Let tlie Andes into ashes melt, 
And the endless scourge of lull be felt; 

XXX. 

Let all this be hourly done, and yet 
They won't wipe out the countless debt 
Wliicli by one single crime was made; 
But death must come Avitli his ugly blade 
And bring king and rustic to a level, 
Some to lieaven go and others to the devil; 
Those Avho have their sins forgiven 
Fly on the wings of love to heaven; 

XXX L 

But those on whose heads rest the sin, 
Must go to liell and enter in; — 
'Tis very hard, but it is the law. 
The thought fills my soul with awe, 
To think of such a place to be a native 
Makes me feel at times meditative; 
Upon the whole the idea is very awful, 
But the decree is very just and lawful. 



SIEGE OF MONTKREY. 11 

XXXII. 

But I have resolved to commit no crimes, 

But spend my life in making rliymes. 

There are six degrees in crime, you know, 

The fii'st is, to the grog-shop go, 

And tliere make thyself feel frisky. 

By playing the devil and drinking whisky, 

And if you profess to be a dandy, 

You must drown your sorrow in brandy. 

XXXIII. 

Tlien, in tlxe second place, what is it? 

Why to a seraglio pay a little visit. 

At which every evening spend an hour or two, 

And commit the 1 leave that to you; 

Then take some harlot and call lier lioney, 
And make your living by counterfeiting money. 
And when you lose all sense of feeling, 
"Why, then, you can go to dead-out stealing. 

XXXIV. 

And what next, you'll inquire, then? 
"Why, highway robbery and killing men; 
Just thrust a pistol in' his teeth and cock it. 
And make hira stand till you search his pocket. 
And if he should call you a sinner. 
Just shoot the wretch through the dinner. 
Or shoot through the brain, if you choose, 
But kill him if he should refuse. 

XXXV. 

But I forget to mention the roulette. 
Where you must always be to bet, 
'Tis the place where gamblers wander 
Their ill-gotten wealth for to squander; 
'Tis the place where thieves go a sneaking. 
Where hell is played generally speaking; 
Then, if you should find yourself in chains. 
You can end your misery by blowing out your 
brains. 



12 SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 

XXXVI. 

But if you should escape such a fats, 

You iiJedu't blow a hole in your pate; 

Go to committing crimes of every sort, 

Then go to tlie scaffold as a dernier resort. 

And there your many crimes expiate 

By suffering them your soul to extricate, [fell. 

And when your head liath from your shoulders 

Just take a short trip down to hell. 

XXXVII. 

So you see what brandy liath done at last. 
Shut you up in hell's burni)ig blast; 
Alcohol is an awful tiling, I assin-e yon, [you; 
You may stand awhile but at length he'll floor 
He'll make you dr.ag out a miserable life, 
And spread discord between thee and wife; 
He often makes lord and lady part. 
Makes neighbor stab his neighbor's heart; 

XXXVIH. 
He murders innocence and kills the wise. 
And sends him to hell when lie dies. 
He sends them too in a solid phalanx. 
And helps to increase Satan's dusky ranks; 
So let him alone, dear reader, I advise you. 
If you don't he will certainly capsize you, 
He is a monster wlio no mercy knows, 
Destruction follows him where'er he goes. 

XXXIX. 

He marches his armies relentless by, 
His sweetest music is the orplian's cry. 
The next sweetest is the widow's wail; 
"With drinkers of blood lie fills the jail, 
And leaves the family without meat or bread 
To inherit disgrace when tlie sire's dead; 
And oh! ye dealers in deadly banes, 
Poes human blood flew in your veins? 



SIEGE OF MOXTEEET. 13 

XL. 

If SO, I ask, ho'^ dare you 
To take tlie drunkard's life and money too? 
To whip the devil around the stump, "don't try, 
You'll see your error wlien you die; 
'Tis true I am no professional preacher, 
Neither am I a very moral teacher, 
But to sell a man that wliich you know 
Will send his soul to hell below, 

XLI. 

Seems to me a very serious crime: 
But let this pass, f"or the present time. 
As I to be a preacher don't at all profess. 
You don't wisli to hear any more, I guess. 
But wish you to know I no flatterer am, 
Whether it pleases you or not don't matter a 

d n; 

What I think, I write and speak. 

You shall hear something more next week. 

XLII. 

I write this in the city of Cincinnati, 

Among tlie upper-tens and literati; 

At the Dennison House, room No. twenty. 

They give me eggs and onions plenty, 

They use me right and feed me well. 

And I'm always there at the ringing of the bell, 

I'm now in my room, in tlie fourth stoi'y, 

About as near as I often get to glory. 

XLIII. 
I went to the Olympic Theater the other night, 
And I pledge my word I saw an awful sight; 
You have heard of Mrs. Saunders, I suppose, 
To see her play a crowd always goes, 
If you liav'n't seen her, it don't matter, 
I went last niglit to get a peep at her, 
I entered the saloon at precisely seven. 
Instead of seeing the lady I saw her heaven. 



14 SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 

XLIV. 

On one foot slie stood witli perfect ease, 

Wliile the other angled at ninety degrees. 

Then whirled around just like a top 

At least a dozen times before she'd stop; 

Then it was I strained my eyes 

Till they were as large as my fist in size, 

The whole room sliook with laughter, — 

What think you I was all the time looking after? 

XLV. 

I saw, — sure enoiigli, it don't matter what, 
I paid my money and begrudge it not; 
At any rate I saw the heavenly siglit, 
And I intend to see it again to-night, 
For such sights my money is freely spent, 
I saw something new every time I went. 
Anything can be had here for pelf 
That is calculated to amuse one's self. 

XLYL 
But we often see sights which grieve us. 
We often meet men who deceive us; 
You find a gang of cut-throats at every square. 
Who will knock you down in open air, 
Who will demand your money or your life. 
And after he's got your money stab you with a 

knife. 
Last night, as I came along the pavement bricks, 
I saw a little Frenchman in an awful fix. 

XLVII. 

His nose was stuck in a hole of mud, 
From which poured a big stream of blood. 
And a rviffian standing by with a stick. 
Dealing first a blow and then a kick; 
Up came anotlier vile specimen of France, 
Dashing ^across the street as swift as he could 
prance. 



SIEGE OK MONTEREY. 15 

He interrupted the ruffian with, "Sir, who am 

youV 
The ruffian replied, "A gentleman, God d n 

jou;" 

XL VIII. 
At the same time givinf^ him a tremendous hack. 
And he embraced the dirt with liis back; 
"Murder! Monsieur, help!" he loudly cries, 
While the ruffian was gouging his eyes; 
Then on his abdomen the robber sat 
Gouginj? his eves and beating his nose flat. 
While the little fellow hallooed "Thief!" 
But no person came to his relief. 

XLIX. 

Now the police came like hell broke loose. 
And took all three to the calaboose, 
They were tried by the municipal court, 
Sentenced to labor a week in the city fort. 
But, reader, I suppose you liave heard enough 
Of this rigmarole nonsense and stuif, 
So I'll close this Canto directly. 
And try to write the next more correctly; 

L. 

I'm so full of poetry, I'm ready to burst, 
I hope to do better in the second than first; 
This Canto is only my little preface 
To Avhat I intend to Avrite in the next place; 
In this Canto I've had a little fun. 
But here my devilment shall be done; 
I'm in a mighty vein to joke and nod, 
But I'll do better now, so help me God. 



16 SIEGE OF MONTEREY, 



CANTO II 



I. 

'TwAS in the year eighteen liundred and forty-six 

A stir took place between Satan and his tricks. 

He beg-an to harness his rusty car 

To drag home the bieedin<^ sons of war; 

Idle Avas he for want of work, 

And was playing euchre with his clerk. 

But he was startled l)y a liostile gun, 

For the siege of Monterey had now begun. 

II. 
O'er the hill peeps the daughter of the dawn, 
Shedding her rays across the lawn, 
Gilding with beauty nature's chart, 
Wanning the earth and gladdening every heart; 
To liis feet old Rough and Ready sprung, 
Across his shoulder the heavy buckler flung, 
Seized his bugle and blew a thundering sound. 
Echoing through the camp and ringing along the 
ground. 

III. 
Like a cloud of locusts swarming along the land. 
In a solid phalanx a cloud of heroes stand; 
A* the ccrny morn mounts the eastern skies. 
Old Zack bid- his band of warriors rise, 
The dtura^s heavy tap, the shrill notes of the fife. 
Call the gallant heroes to begin the bloody strife; 
Quick tlie old hero mounts his snowy steed 
And bids them conquer or to bravely bleed. 



SIEGE OF MOMERET. 17 

IV. 

Shield on shield across the plain appear 
Plumes on plumes and spear on spear, 
Shining like phosphorus in the morning sun. 
Though many thousands they appear but one; 
Up and down he rode Old Whitey along. 
Urging on to glory his unshrinkin,^ throng; 
Clouds on clouds of black. dust arise, 
And in mazy curls intercept the skies. 

y. 

Filled is every heart \rith a thirst of fame, 
Anxious in honor's temple to stamp his name. 
Firmly they march along in silence profound, 
Their heavy tramp shakes the solid ground, 
Near the walls they draw, then come to a stand. 
And thus Taylor addresses his immortal band: 
"Listen, ye heroes, and mark what I say. 
Death must we have or the city of Monterey 

VI. 
" 'Tis not the brave who from danger flies, 
'Tis he who in the very arms of glory dies, 
'Tis the pale-face who from glory goes 
While the gallant warrior firmly faces his foes; 
High on honor's temple glory puts their name. 
The coward lives a life of woe, and dies a deatli 

of shame, 
The brave heart never shrinks with fear, — 
If any such there be, I don't need you here. 

VII. 

" 'Tis the coward who makes brave men run. 
Whose jaws chatter before the hostile gun; 
Shame is depicted on the coward's face, 
And trembling limbs bear him to disgrace; 
Blessed is he who in the arms of glory dies, 
He finds a welcome seat beyond the skies; 
But the pale-face must always go 
To dwell in the precincts of unending woe. 



18 SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 

VIII. 

"If any coTvard in ray ranks should stand, 
'Tis my desire he shall leave my band; 
Recollect your country's glorious cause, 
Recollect Mexico's insults and broken laws, 
Recollect ye Fannin's bloody massacre, 
Recollect the Anglo blood spilled at Mier 
Solemn vows broken, innocent blood, 
At San Miguel fell in a streaming flood; 

IX. 

"Recollect the expedition to Santa F6, 
Where, instead of setting our countrymen free, 
As well you know they promised to do, 
Tied them up and shot them tlirough; 
Recollect your brother's blood which flowed 
In copious floods along the stony road, 
And that too for no other cause than they 
Were unable to travel fifty miles per day, 

X. 

"Without shoes, clothes, meat, or bread, 
For this enormous crime they shot 'em dead; 
And those who died for want of meat 
Were left on the wayside for hungry wolves to eat. 
Methinks I see the hungry cannibals now. 
Tearing the flesh from the hero's brow; 
Metliinks I see him gnaw the gallant bones 
While my ears ring with their dying groans. 

XI. 

"Alas! mv heart sickens at the thought. 
How by cteception they were caught, 
HoAV they promised to use them good, 
As a brave nation to her focmcn would. 
How they promised to spare their lives. 
To restore them to their babes and wives, 
Inducing each hero to give up his gun. 
And then they basely ixiiirdered evary one. 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 19 

XII. 

"Methinks I hear their injured spirits cry, 
A'engeance have or in the arms of glory die; 
Willi Mexican blood drench the plain. 
And let a dishonored nation bleed at every vein 
Avenge the death of your brothers, "who 
Fought for thee and tliy country too, 
Whose precious blood clrenched the ground. 
Let vengeance rock heaven and hell around. 

XIII. 

"Avenge the blood of your brothers slain. 
Let them knoAv though dead they live again, 
Teach them how to treat a freeman well. 
Or send them to the iron gates of hell; 
If they deserve it there let them go, 
For such wretches all deserve unending woe, 
There let them meet their well-earned reward. 
For they lived only to sin against the Lord." 

XIV. 
TlixTs Taylor brought his speech to a close, 
And rode Old Whitey before his foes, 
In his left hand heki the bridle thong. 
And like great Hector rode along 
With a ponderous saber near his side. 
And as a hawk his foes he eyed; 
On his head sat an old cap of blue, 
A coat he wore of the same color too. 

XV. 
Around his waist hung a scarf of silk. 
His steed was whiter far than milk. 
Proud was he of tlie gallant load he bore. 
For he had toted it over many a field before 
He knew well from the load on his back. 
And the sliarp report of the rifle-crack. 
Well did he from these tokens kmw 
That he must tote his master oil the foe. 



20 SIEGK OF jrONTERET. 

XVI. 

His proud ears perked .to'ward ihe skies, 
Toward the Spanish ranks he casts his eyes. 
Pawing the earth v.ith his heavy shoe. 
That blood must soon flow he knew. 
That San Juan's flowery shore 
Must soon be drunk with gore, 
And from all signs which he could see 
Tlie blood of mortals the tide must be; 

XVII. 

Tliat the earih must be shook to its poles. 
And hell overfloAA'ed with human souls, 
Tliat Satan must make a draw of profit 
Tliat is, if his dusky honor saw fit; 
That Monterey's walls soon must yield. 
And dying heroes fill the field, 
And hungry vultures glut their maws 
On great heroes of freedom's cause. 

XVIII. 
This Old Whitey saw and knew it well, 
For he had seen many a tide of gore swell; 
Oft had he on Florida's boggy shore 
His master through death and destruction bore. 
When all around the Indian sung his war song 
He toted Old Zack undaunted along; 
That he must go Avhere bullets thickest flew 
Was one thing that full well he kne\v> 

XIX. 
He knew that where blood deepest flowed 
That there he must carry his dauntless load; 
He had learned his master's camp to share, 
'Twas his desire to go when danger rested there. 
To his master's bidding a willing face he gave. 
And the master's courage made the courser brave; 
Bravei-y from man to brute is contagious, 
An(i the way cowardice is too is outrageous. 



SiEGE OF MON'TEREr. 21 

XX. 

A brave ■warrior makes his courser so, 
A coward jnakes the brave tiee the foe 
Like one wave that drives another on the shore, 
And swelling billows in succession pour, 
Dashing each otlier against the sandy banks. 
So the coward breaks the solid phalanx 
And tolls the brave warrior from the fi,^ht 
And makes him in confusion take to flight. 

XXI. 

In two mighty arrays both armies stand 
While clouds of dust blacken all the land; 
On tlie left proud Mississippi stood 
lU^ady to drink a tide of Spanish blood. 
Guarded on the right by Jeff., the bold. 
And on the left by Bradford, the hero of old, 
"Who to meet his foes it always filled with joy, 
As brave was he as great Ajax of Troy; 

XXII. 
Known is he as the bravest of the brave, 
"WIio fears not death, blood, or grave, 
"VVho at Ocachohee. bravely fought, 
Instead of shrinking always danger sought, 
And when he met it lie firmly stood, 
Ko matter hoAV thick the foe or deep the blood; 
Xo chattering jaws ever filled his mouth. 
Firmly doth he stand to the sunny south. 

XXIII. 
Xo trembling limbs ever bore him away, 
Let all else run he'll always stay, 
"When on Buena Vista's bloody field lie rode 
And blood in torrents around him flowed. 
To retreat a short space Davis gave the word, 
But the order Bradford never heard; 
He looked and saw his heroes had fled, 
"Hell and furies," he cried, "shoot me dead; 



22 SIEOE OF MONTEREY. 

XXIY. 

"To live any longer a desire have I none, 
I wish to die since Mississippi run. 
Oh! my friend, I'll give my horse if you 
Will take your gun and shoot me through; 
Dost thou not see Mississippi running 
While Kentucky's yonder bravely gunning? 
And why should I wish to live "when they 
Have lied from the field of glory 



XXV. 
"Death and damnation to tliem," he cries, 
As he pulls his liair and tears his eyes; 
"Oh, would to God that some friend 
His load at my breast would send. 
And let me in the arms of honor die 
While Mississippi did basely fly." 
Despair was depicted on tlie hero's face 
When he thought of his country's disgrace; 

XXVI. 

But when Mississippi renewed tlie fight 
His face witli joy became exceeding bright. 
He soon learned with joy sweet 
That it was a well-timed retreat, 
Which his brave breast with joy filled 
And made liim glad he was not killed; 
He rejoined his returning ranks again 
And rode where bullets thickest rain. 

XXVII. 

In the center of the phalanx stern McClung, 

With a heavy buckler o'er liis shoulder flung. 

From his face revenge and fury blazed. 

As like a lion on his prey he gazed; 

As a lion from his den eyes his prey, 

Or as the wolf eyes the sheep a/ound him play. 

Anxious with his blood to fill his maw 

So soon as he gets him in his iron claw; 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 23 

XXVIII. 

So immortal McClimg gazes on liis foes. 
Whose eye like fieiy serpent's glows; 
He scans his yellow foes one by one. 
Anxious that the war should be begun; 
A sash hangs by his side in waving folds, 
A heavy saber in his right hand he holds. 
Undaunted courage on his cheek appears, 
No danger he dreads, no foes he fears. 

XXIX. 

Thick around old Rough and Ready stand, 

A cloud of warriors who blacken all the land. 

From post to post each warrior flies, 

Shouts on shouts of glory rise. 

"To thee, General Worth," Old Buena Vista cried, 

"The storming of Bishop's hight I confide;" 

Never did a matron give birtli 

To a braver hero than General Worth. 

XXX. 

He mounts his steed and thus begun: 
"The Palace is ours ere the day is done; 
The Palace shall our motto be. 
An honored grave Ave '11 have or victory. 
Gladly do I undertake the important charge; 
My band is small, tiieir souls are large." 
Thus saying he bowed to his brother heroes 
And swift toward tlie Palace he goes. 

XXXI. 

"We'll have the Palace or lose our breath 
And close our eyes in the sable shades of death; 
And oh! ye gods, who rule the skies. 
At whose command nations fall and rise. 
At whose bidding Phcebus runs her round. 
Whose awful word shakes the solid ground. 
At whose bidding awful thunders roll 
And broad earth shakes from pole to pole: 



24 SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 

XXXII. 

"Thou, wlio made us of mortal dust , 
In thy care to-day we put all our trust; 
Let us eitlier conquer to-day or bravely die; 
If death meets us take us to the quiet sky; 
"With courage let every breast be steeled, 
And let no coward basely leave the field, 
If he does, let hiin find a seat in purfjatory 
Known to shame, but a stranger rank to gloiy." 

XXXIII. 
Thus he prays to the great God above. 
As swift toward the Palace liis heroes move; 
'Tis not the coward who bends the humble knee. 
To bow to God should our duty ever be; 
'Tis the brave who put their trust in heaven high, 
And always find a welcome when they die — 
"No mark at all is it of base cowardice 
To ask for a seat in heavenly paradise. 

XXXIV. 
Why should we refuse to bow to God, 
Did he not make us from the sod? 
Then, since from the dust we were built, 
Why not kneel on it and confess oi;r guilt? 
Surely God is great and supremely good 
To turn dust into such flesh and blood; 
When he made man he didn't stop there, 
He made a being his woes to share, 

XXXV. 

He made her of beauty's form divine. 

As sweet and juicy as the liquid vine. 

He made them to make us feel good every day. 

And hap]>y when we on the downy pillow lay — • 

And recollect that little variation. 

The greatest blessing e'er met a nation. 

Why still refuse to humbly bend our knees 

When blest with such heavenly things as these? 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 25 

XXXVI, 

Fo, reader, let me here say that I, for one, 
"Will always bow the knee to the throne 
From whence all these good things came. 
And many things which becomes me not to name. 
Things which are bought without price, 
And you too had better take my advice, 
For in due time I give you friendly warning 
You had better pray every night and morning. 

XXXVII. 

Davis stood by Rough and Ready's side, 
"Take the mud fort, Jeff.," the warrior cried; 
"Put thy trust in the ruler of the sky, 
Take the fort or let every hero die, 
Level those ponderous walls to the sand 
And let not a live foeman stand. 
And recollect the cause in which we fight. 
Go ahead, for heaven says we're right." 

XXXVIII. 

"Gladly those commands do I now obey, 
We'll have the fort ere the close of day; 
Let every hero his courage keep. 
Take the fort or close in endless sleep." 
Then he tlie old hero thus addressed: 
"Before yonder sun shall sink to rest. 
Or before proud Cynthia mounts the skies. 
The fort is ours, or Jeff. Davis dies." 

XXXIX. 

Thus saying, lie seized the bridle thong 
And rode slowly toward the foes along. 
Proudly he sits on a well-trained steed, 
Of pitchy black and of imported breed, 
Whose giant head towers toward the sky, 
On the Spanish ranks he casts his eye. 
And full well too the courser knows 
That they are his master's foes. 



26 SIEGE OF MON'TEKEY. 

XL. 

In his right hand the heavy saber took. 
Then eyes his foes with complacent look. 
Up and down before his band he rode, 
And bid them prepare the deadly load: 
"Be cool, my boys, and take your time, 
Sec that eveiy pan is full of prime, 
Be certain that all is right before yoti go. 
Then let every crack bring a foe." 

XLI. 
As he spoke, big drops rolled from his eyes. 
And his heroes greet him with thundering cries, 
To his command an attentive ear they give — 
"The fort is ours or we shall no longer live." 
Now toward his foes doth the warrior ride. 
With the immortal Bradford by his side, 
"Who, like Hector, sits on his pitchy horse 
And bids defiance to all the opposing force. 

XLII. 
In his left hand he holds the shining reins, 
A ponderous saber his right hand detains. 
Fastened was the hilt with a golden screw. 
Ivory hilt inlaid with gold imbrue. 
The steel with gilded dogs inlaid, 
Who appear chasing a fox along the blade. 
And mimic battles in victory won 
Shine like phosphorus in the morning sun. 

XLIII. 

With vengeance dire the gallant heroes frown, 
On his gallant brow sits a three-cornered crown. 
From which a snowy plume proudly flies 
In mazy waves along the skies; 
A crimson scarf entwijies the hero's waist, 
Flowing down his side •'.•/ith beauteous taste, 
A golden stripe on each thigh appears. 
And on his heels shine golden spears. 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 27 

XLIV. 

His ponderous saber glistens in his hand 
As the hero approaches the Spanish band; 
In one solid phalanx the foes appear 
With gorgeous dress and nplifted spear, 
Like myriads of locusts the heroes crowd, 
Wrapping themselves in one dusty cloud; 
Now, within fifty paces of the foe, 
Did Jeff.'s immortal warriors go; 

XLV. 

Then they stop and come to a sudden stand. 
Then Jeff, seizes his bugle in his hand. 
Put it to his lips and blew a thundering sound. 
Which shook the towering hills around, 
Echoed against the hills, once again, 
Then dashes on the breeze along the plain; 
The last echo ceased and the sound was done, 
With hellish fury now the war begun. 

XLVI. 
Hand to hand doth every hero engage. 
Hell they deal with mutual rage; 
The liostile guns like distant thunders roar. 
While torrents of blood begin to pour, 
And swelling torrents dash along the plain. 
Dyeing the flowers with a crimson stain; 
Slippery become the hills with human gore, 
Broad earth trembles from shore to shore. 

XLYII. 
Now on the rampart three heroes sprung, 
'Twas Bradford, Bell, and McClung; 
First Bradford and McClung, then Bell, 
And sent the Mexicans bleeding down to hell; 
Each warrior engages a deadly foe 
And into a dedthly struggle dire they go; 
Each army first forward then backward reeled. 
And doubt hung like a pall across the field. 



as SIEGE OF MOXTEREY. 

XLVIII. 

The Spaniards now retreat, then again advance, 

At McClung's head Bustaniente threw his lance, 

It flew around his liead and missed its aim, 

And in fragments to the earth it came 

And lay like a serpent hid in dust; 

Tlien with his saber at his breast made a thrust; 

But McClung knocked his hand apart 

And plunged his steel through Bustamente's heart. 

XLIX. 
Quick back to the earth did he reel, 
On whose breast McClung placed his heel 
And wrenched the steel from his heart as he lay; 
He gave a dying shriek and his soul fled away; 
And as his life-blood oozed through the hole. 
To an unknown world fled the hero's soul, 
There to receive its final doom, you know. 
Of eternal bliss, or sink to hell below. 



Then on the breeze the deadly messenger flew 
And pierced McClung's noble body through, 
Tearing three fingers from his noble liand. 
Stretching the warrior bleeding on the sand; 
Down to the earth was the hero prone, 
Gave vent to his agony with a painful groan. 
Spouting came the blood through the wound, 
Standing in crimson pools along the ground. 

LI. 

"On, on to glory," the gallant hero cries, 
As stretched on the sand the bleeding warrior lies, 
" 'Tis an easy task thus to yield my breath, 
And in the very arras of glory meet my death; 
I fear' no death, I feel no pangs of pain, 
Though my life-blood flows like falling rain; 
I feel haj)py thus my spirit up to yield 
And die in glory on this victorious field." 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 29 

LII. 

But let Mississippi's praise to God resound. 
For McClung's did prove no mortal wound; 
'Tis true his blood drenched a foreign plain, 
Let heaven be praised for McClung lives again; 
And long may he live to enjoy his well-earned 

fame. 
And blessed be all who inherit the hero's name; 
To him let kin^s and tyrants bow, 
For Mississippi's laurels hang on his brow. 

LIII. 
There let them hang, he earned them well. 
He bravely fought and nobly fell; 
In freedom's cause he spilled his gore, 
"Which did from his loins in torrents pour; 
Homage to him should the nation pay. 
For he deserved it well on that glorious day; 
Let the harp of joy your fingers touch. 
And bow to him, for he deserves it much. 

LIV. 

Now, immortal Bradford and Gonzales meet, 
Bradford stretched him bleeding at his feet; 
At Bradford's breast his lance he threw. 
But Bradford hacked the shaft in two. 
Which dropped in fragments from his hand 
And fell in pieces along the land; 
Then each o'er his head his saber whirled, 
At each other a glance of defiance hurled; 

LV. 
Then like enraged tigers at each other go, 
Dealing stroke for stroke and blow for blow; 
He struck at Bradford's head, but missed. 
Then the earth he involuntarily kissed. 
Through the breast received a mortal wounds 
Off goes his head and rolls along the ground 
Sounding like the brook's murmuring song, 
Leaving a bloody trail as it rolls along. 



30 SIEGE OF MONTEEEY. 

LVI. 

Many yards down the liill did it roll. 

While through his neck escaped his soul, 

And swift through fields of space it goes, 

And ancliors at the gates of — God only knows — 

There, like Bustamente, his doom to Jbear, 

In heaven to live or in hell to steer; 

If his sins were forgiven, which I hope was true, 

A home he found beyond the vaulted olue; 

LVII. 

But, if they were not, you certainly know. 
He winged his way to the gates of woe. 
In those dark abodes to forever dwell 
And expiate in the burning flames of hell. 
Swift from his dying foe Bradford turns, 
"While with vengeance his feature burns; 
Again amid the reeling ranks he flew 
And dashed his saber Christo's belly through, 

-■. 

LVIII. 
Who with a dying groan grasped the sod. 
While he gave up the ghost with a dying nod, 
The last life-drop oozed from his veins 
And ran in streaming rills along tlie plains — 
A convulsive struggle, he breathes his last, 
Death's dusky valley is now forever passed, 
Christo hath fallen to rise no more, 
His country's soil hath drank his gore. 

LIX. 
He paid the debt, that we all must pay, - 

And gone to live in woe or endless day; 
Of Christo's guilt, or of Christo's crimes, 
I have no more to say in these my rhymes. 
Whether he went to heaven above or hell below, 
I don't profess at all to know; 
Neither is it any business at all of mine — 
li'either is it, reader, any affair of thine. 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 31 

LX. 

Again Bradford meets his deadly foes 
Aiul mows them down as on he goes; 
His saber and hand wet with Imman gore. 
Which in torrents from his saber pour. 
Striking them dead every now and then. 
Marking his way with dying men, 
Who continue in ponderous heaps to rise 
In bloody mounds toward the skies. 

LXI. 

Then, like those Grecian gods of old, 
Came thundering down JefF., the bold. 
With his left hand holding the sliining reins, 
And dashing, like Ajax, across the plains, 
High o'er his head his heavy saber whirled. 
As swift he rode along the bloody world; 
On his breast a star of honor shined, 
A golded plume waved his hat behind, 

LXII. 

Floating proudly in the morning breeze. 
Like a snowy sail in the briny seas, 
Like a lion concealed in his hiding-place 
Watching the prey that shall before him face. 
Breathing destruction at every ferocious breath, 
From whose eye flashes the blaze of death. 
So death blazed from the warrior's eyes. 
As, "On to victory, ye braves," he cries. 

LXIII. 
Right and left goes his bloody blade, 
A foe bit the dust at every stroke he made; 
Some on their backs, others on their faces, fell. 
And went in crowds to the dark abodes of hell; 
Some with their abdomens pierced with holes. 
Through which to eternity had fled their souls; 
Others with their arms all torn away, 
Their intestines stretched around them lay. 



32 SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 

LXIV. 

From which waves of hot smoke arise, 
"Waving in mazy columns to the skies; 
Some lying in heaps, others side by side, 
Wlio had in an* equal struggle died 
"With their hands clenched in the other's hair, 
Gazing in each other's face with a deathly stare. 
Tluis they had died in each other's embrace. 
With breast to breast and face to face; 

LXV. 
Like lords, they seem embracing their wives. 
Not as if they had taken each other's lives; 
Or like a lady on her lover's breast, 
In eacli other's arms do they sweetly rest, 
Though foes in life they are friendly now, i 
For death's relentless dart hath struck them low, , 
Making them forget the hate they bore, 
As friends now they sleep forevermore. 

LXVI. 
Fate in life had made them foes, 
But they in death as friends repose; 
In tlie arms of death we lose our hate 
And meet as friends at heaven's gate, "" 

For no discord can ever enter there; 
That so we all shall meet, is my earnest prayer; 
And in harmony and peace forever dwell — 
Anywhere but in a burning hell. 

LXVII. 

Now into ranks Tennessee bravely wheeled. 
And dashed in a solid phalanx o'er the field, ^ 
Shouting, "Victory or death," as she goes. 
While black clouds of dust around them arose. 
Wrapping the gallant band from mortal view. 
While heavy guns they fire and mortars too. 
Causing the earth to be in human gore drowned. 
And making them by platoons bite the ground. 



SIEGE OF MONTEEEY. 33 

LXVIII. 

And all around in dire destruction spread. 
Marking their way "with large heaps of dead; 
The blood-stained banner proudly flies 
Like an eagle through the liquid skies; 
I^ow here, now yonder, the battle waves, 
Like a lion of vengeance every hero raves; 
Doubt hangs on one, then the other side, 
While by whole brigades the Mexicans died. 

LXIX. 
Filled was Mexico with deep despair. 
For death reigned thick around her there; 
Each Spanish foe was with terror struck, 
Thev begin to yield and curse their luck, 
With disgust dash their guns against the dirt 
And leave the field wholly unhurt; 
Behind the stones many cowards squat, 
And in sink-holes many others got, 

LXX. 
Whose love of life and the awful sight 
Prompted them to flee the bloody fight; 
They ran over eiich other helter-skelter 
Anxious to find some safe retreat or slielter 
To shield their bacon from the Avhizzing balls. 
Which like a storm of hail around them falls. 
I'll pledge you my word 'twould plague you 
To tell whether it was alarm or bilious ague, 

LXXI. 

Or a congestive chill which they had taken. 
Which made them run to save their bacon. 
Bragg mounts his chariot and seizes the reins. 
And dashes like a god across the plains; 
He kills the wounded as o'er them he rolls, 
Stops the breath and crushes out their souls; 
Smoking entrails wrap his wheels around 
And drag in smoking ropes along the ground, 



34 SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 

LXXII. 

Dyeing liis -wheels in floods of smoking gore. 
Which in torrents along his axles pour. 
Dashing human blood high in the air. 
Which falls like rain on his horses there. 
Dotting their sno-wy backs ^s-ith red, 
While before them the Spaniards fled. 
He stops — his guns into battery now he wheeled 
And sent his destructive pills o'er the field, 

LXXIII. 
Which like Jove's awful thunder explode, 
And dying foes start on a hellward road; 
Heels upward they fall on every side. 
Some groaned, while others in silence died; 
Filled is the air with mournful groans, 
And covered is tlie earth with broken bones; 
Some ciy for water, others cry for breath, 
Then close their eyes in the dusky shades of death. 

Lxxir. 

Grim deatli is with bloody vengeance rife, V 
While hellish fury stirs the blood v strife; : 

Every ditch with smoking gore fills. 
Dashing in crimson torrents down the hills 
Changing Juan's sparkling waters red 
With the blood of gallant heros dead; 
Dying foes still increase the swelling flood t 
With human brains and streaming blood. d 

LXXV. 
Hell itself to its utmost center shook, 
And heaven did with wonder intent look 
To behold the earth deluged in gore. 
And dire vengeance, still shedding more. 
Filled heaven with awe, liell with wonder, 
And stretched the jaws of death asunder 
And fed him on blood till he was filled, 
And on human life, which detestation spilled. 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 35 



STORMING OF BISHOP'S PALACE. 



CANTO III. 



I. 

Now with hellisli fury Worth stomis the hight. 
And hand to hand the gallant heroes fight; 
With ponderous ladders they scale the wall. 
Together fight and together fall, 
And smoking gore begins to flow — 
Filled is the air with shrieks of dying woe. 
Hark! how they with hellish fury scream, 
O'er the walls the bloody banners stream. 

II. 

On the ramparts yoimg Bibo spi'img, 

A thundering voice spoke his gallant tongue, 

And while death flashed from his eyes, 

"Death hell, and destruction," he cries; 

"How dare ye, my countrymen," he said, 

"To fly thus and leave your brothers dead? 

See ye in each breast a gaping wound? 

See thy country's blood running on the ground? 

III. 

"Behold them yonder," as he bravely falls, 
"Behold the Anglos in our sacred walls; 
How can ye stand and see them die. 
With no pangs of woe, no tearful eye? 
Have ye all friendly feeling lost? 
Behold the saber through thy brother tossed, 
See him die, and hear him loudly groan. 
Swear to avenge his death or meet thine own." 



36 SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 

IV. 

Thus yoimg Bibo ceased his word, 
In his right hand grasped his sword; 
Beauty and vengeance shone in his face 
As on the walls the youth took his place; 
Big streams of woe trickled down his cheek, 
Misfortune hath played him an awful freak 
This was to have been his wedding day, 
But his guests around him in gore lay. 

V. 
But, alas! Bibo's hopes are forever fled, ■' 

Tlie close of day perhaps shall see him dead; 
And, Oh! where is his intended Isabel, 
She whom Bibo always loved so well? 
Ah! that house was to be her bridal hall. 
Perhaps it shall be the damsel's mourning pall; ; 
That night which with joy was to sweetly wave, 
That night perhaps shall see her lover's grave. 

VI. 

She was young Bibo's intended bride, 
No happiness she knew only by his side; 
Oft hath she sat, in days of yore. 
By Bibo's side, on Juan's flowery shore; 
There had they passed many a happy hour 
'Neath the fragrant folds of "Cristee's bower, 
Long hath sat 'neath the orange grove 
And listened to Bibo's tales of love. 

VII. 
There had she often knelt and swore 
To be his, and only his, forevermore; 
She felt the throb of bliss as it came. 
And Bibo dearly loved the beauteous darae. 
Bibo hath sought and won her love, 
And sworn by all the powers of God above 
That he would love none but Isabel — 
'Twas a sacred oath, he kept it well. 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 37 

VIII. 

And, instead of young Bibo's wedding day. 

Took place the great siege of Monterey. 

Invitations had been sent around 

To see Bibo and Isabel's joy crowned; 

But, alas! he must from Isabel go 

And bravely meet his country'sfoe; 

He must leave Isabel's beauteous charms, 

And exchange kisses for fire-arms. 

IX. 
When he lieard the hostile cannon roar, 
He seized his sword and thought of love no more, 
But swift to the Bishop's Palace he goes, 
There to drink the blood of his deadly foes; 
Cowardice was a feeling he never knew, 
Braver men than he were very few; 
He was beautiful, generous, and kind. 
He possessed a tender heart and witty mind, 

X. 

A good head, full of generous knowledge. 
Well cultivated at a Spanish college; 
Features fair and smooth, figure neat, 
Roman nose, blue eyes, and little feet — 
The only son of Don Zebboneezer — 
A. heart as brave as .lulius Csesar; 
^kiu as white as polished alabaster — 
Tust such as young ladies sigh after. 

XI. 

can swear, by the most holy truth, 
That he was a most lovely youth; 
)f every quality was the lad possessed, 
Vliich makes a soul and generous breast, 
sabel was Don Pedro's only daughter, 
Vho had in the paths of virtue taught her, 
^nd she had never been known, as yet, 
ler prudent carriage to forget; 



38 SIEGE OF MONTEREf . 

XII. 

And that, is a thing which, you know, 

If committed, will certainly show — 

The stream once muddied clears not again. 

Death can only wipe out the stain; 

Honor is hard to keep, but easy lost, 

And many pangs of woe with the accident cost{ 

Nothing can so easy seduce the fair, 

As this vain Avorld's seductive glare. 

XIII. 
The damsel's skin was as white as snow. 
Her eyes like beauteous pebbles show. 
Which shine beneath the sparkling brook; 
"J'was heaven itself on her cheek to look — 
Part of heaven shone in her lovely eye, 
The balance a short space below them lie; 
Her beauteous charms and lovely face 
Were an equal match for the heavenly race.' 

XIV. 
On her sweet lip the rosy nectar hung, 
Heavenly strains spoke her enchanting tongue; 
Her cheek was as red as the rosy wine, 
Voluptuous bust and form divine; 
Her countenance with ethereal beauty glows. 
On each cheek a pretty dimple glows, 
Which seems a paradise of earthly bliss — 
What a heaven such lips as these to kiss! 

XV. 

Oh! ambrosial food, sui-passing sweet! 

Swelling breast full of fervent heat, 

On which two bubbles like snowy beacons rise, 

Guiding a vessel to the haven below them lies. 

Where anchorage sweet is always found — 

Let serpents hiss and coil around, 

But there is always found a safe retreat, 

Anchorage safe and grazing sweet. 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 39 

XVI. 

delightful grass and sweet standing clover, 
ioral liills Avith sweet manna over: 
'empests may toss and huge billows roll — 
'here the brig may find anchorage hole, 
/"here it can always in sweet security lie 
/"hen black tempests o'erspread the sky; 
shosaphat! or anything that you please, 
an't compare with such harbors as these. 

XVII. 
eaven itself is but very little sweeter — 
can prove it true by St. Micliael or Peter, 
'is ambrosial food for man's delight, 
nd will make him happy, to use it right; 
'was tliat for which fatlier Adam fell ° 
nd opened to us a burning hell — 
at we should not our innocent sire blame 
hen we recollect from whence the temptation 
came. 

XVIII. 
it I must get back the thread of my story, 
iislike to Avrite of Adam and purgatory; 
ion't like the devil's hot jurisdiction, 
5an write of love without restriction. 
ike to write of love, war, and so forth, 
back to the Palace let us go forth, 
here we left Bibo, as he firmly stood 
I the ramparts bathed in smoking blood. 

XIX. 
iraes of vengeance in his bosom raged, 
-nd to hand he and Buncli engaged T 
nch fired his repeater at Bibo'sliead, 
ound his skull glanced thf> whizzing lead, 
lich made Bi]x>'s head j^mnrt and burn, 
len he split Buucli from stem to sterii, 
the top of the skull he dealt the blow, 
Jough the otlier extremity did his saber go; 



40 SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 

XX. 

On each side the rampart part of his body fell, 
And frightened his soul down to hell; 
One part fell in the ditch, tlie other under, 
While all his intestines were cut asunder. 
Disgorging his machinery of digestion, 
And putting liim to rest in a dying congestion; 
With a quick getting out his soul was taken, 
He died easy where Bibo got his bacon. 

XXI. 

Still on the ramparts young Bibo stands 
With streaming brow and gory hands, 
As the yeoman mows down his wheat 
Bibo stretched the heroes bleeding at his feet; 
And as swift as the briny breakers pour 
Hurling each otlier against the craggy shore, 
Or swift as flows the meandering rill 
Coursing down some stupendous hill, 

XXII. 

Carrying everything its own course before, 
So down the hill daslies the human gore; 
Still young Bibo fought and bled. 
While death rains thick around his head; 
High in air his saber doth he wield, 
O'ercome, yet refuses to yield the field; 
Like falling hail the deadly bullets sing — 
Swift on the ramparts Worth's heroes spring; 

XXIII. 

But as fast as they on the ramparts go, 

So fast young Bibo lays the heroes low 

All had fled save those who had died, 

And one youth wlio stood by his side. 

On whose cheek angelic beauty shone; 

He seemed to fight for Bibo's life, not his cwn; 

His eyes were black, and so was his hair. 

His fingers small, hands divinely fair. 



SIEGK OF MONTKKEY. 41 

XXIV. 

Such as are unfit a bloody sword to hold, 
Yet he held it firm and used it bold; 
His breast was larg^e, his feet were small, 
Around his shoulders liis flossy tresses fall, 
Down his cheeks trickled big drops of woe, 
And in streams from his chin they flow, 
From thence on his swelling bosom pour. 



XXV. 

On Bibo's face the youth rests his eyes, 
"Retreat and save thy life, Bibo," he cries; 
"We have fought hard, but fought in vain; 
Behold our brother warriors slain, 
Behold the dying men and broken wall, 
Heaven itself hath doomed our fall; 
Behold Spanish blood rolling down the plain, 
And see Mexico bleeding free at every vein. 

XXVI. 
" 'Tis useless to contend against earth and sky, 
To remain longer here we surely die. 
Dost thou not behold our heroes flying? 
Dost not hear them groan and see them dying? 
See how the foes are scaling yonder wall;" 
j Behold how swift our brother heroes fall. 
iHark! dost thou not hear them yell 
Like so many blood hounds from hell?" 

XXVII. 
"Wliat will poor Isabel for a lover do, 
Dear Bibo, if the Anglos slaughter you? 
Oh! Bibo, recollect thy intended wife. 
For her sake preserve thy valued life; 
Recollect how her heart burns for thee — 
'Tis not cowardice now to flee, 
No, our friends have fled, the day is lost, 
If we remain our life 'twill certainly cost." 



43 SIEGE OF MOXTEEET, 

XXVIII. 

On his knees tbe youth before him fell, 
Tore open his breast, "Behold thy Isabel! 
Behold here thine o\rn intended bride. 
Who all day hath stood by your side; 
Behold this heart and see it swell — 
Dost tliou not recognize thine own Isabel? 
All day have I fought in this disguise." 
As thus she spoke tears filled her eyes. 

XXIX. 
*'Leave, oh! fly this instant; thou must fly. 
This is no place for thee, love. Oh! why 
Hast thou exposed thy life so rashly here?" 
"I fought to protect tliee, my lover dear; 
When with thee I dread no deadly foe; 
When by thy side I no danger know. 
If thou "diest I certainly sha'n't sui-vive — 
Thou must not die and leave me alive. 

XXX. 
"But by thy side let me meet my death. 
In thy arms let me yield my breath. 
This day should have seen us wed. 
But let the grave be our bridal bed. 
Howling tempests may yell around, 
And heaven rock the solid ground, 
Empires sink and whole nations rise — 
There no tears of woe shall fill our eyes. 

XXXI. 

"There our hearts shall no soitow feel; 
There we hear no groans and clanking steel; 
There we behold no briny toirents pour; 
There we see no big rivers of human gore; 
But our destiny there bright angels keep, 
No war shall disturb our unending sleep. 
But millions of years roll us by — 
Jn each other's embrace we'll happy lie. 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 43 

XXXII. 
"The grave to rae is no fearful or hideous thing. 
She claims no victory, nor death a sting. 
Why should we such downy pillows dread, 
For there we hear not the tyrant's tread. 
Interrupted there by no tempestuous seas — 
But it is the downy bed of unending ease; 
'Tis no scare-crow from which man should fly, 
"We should neither hate to live nor fear to die. 

XXXIII. 
" Tis a resting bed beneath the flowery sod; 
'Tis a blessing for which we should thank our 

God. 
I can speak for one, and that is me. 
To heaven I often bow the suppliant knee; 
I bow to none but the great God above, 
Save the consecrated shrine of modest love; 
I often bow to modest beauty's shrine. 
For woman's heaven and God are both divine. 

XXXIV. 

One makes ns happy while here below. 
The other when back to God we go; 
The joys of woman's heaven are inexpressible, 
And without love are often inaccessible; 
"Without loving God we see no heaven above — 
To enjoy life is to possess woman's peerless love. 
How sweet 'tis on burning cheeks to rest. 
On a beauteous and sympathetic breast; 

XXXV. 

To feel the electric thrill through our heart. 
To see her sweet lips meet and part — 
How delicious a sweet kiss from them to steal. 
Her swelling breasts' fervent heat to feel; 
Then how sweet to gaze on her sparkling eyes— 
jBut, oh! the heaven that beneath them lies. 
Away with your sparkling eye and pouting kiss. 
But give to rae the paradise of woman's bliss. 



44 SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 

XXXVI. 

Away, ye tyrants, with your haughty court, 
But let me "bow to modest beauty's fort. 
While my thoughts are on topics within, 
To think of which I'm sure is no sin. 
Within always lies a sweet hidden gem — 
My enemies would have me kneel to them. 
By way of admonition, I'll here say to thee, 
That I knuckle not to you, Mr. P. 

XXXVII. 

I boAV not to thee, nor any other individual — 
That you attend to your affairs I bid you all. 
Long have you tried with your hellish schemes 
To ruin me, but you have failed, it seems; 
And let me say a word to your assistant clan: 
Suppose you make me kneel, if you can; 
You have wrote, slandered, and often lied. 
And to sink me in shame have often tried; 

XXXVIII. 

You have used your slanderous tongues aloud, 
But, as yet, to you I have never bowed; 
And if to make me, is the game you play. 
You are fooling your worthless time away. 
Then let me advise you to give up tlie game. 
You are as like as me to sink in shame. 
If to make me humble your inclination leans. 
You'd better undertake by persuasive means; 

XXXIX. 

For what I say here is very true indeed. 

That I never work at all in the lead; 

I'll suffer my vitals from me riven, 

Ere a single inch I will be driven; 

I'm very bad in harness at all to jerk. 

But put me behind and I'll freely work; 

Or I'll work with thee side by side. 

But to drive me hath been unsuccessfully tried. 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 45 

XL. 

I cannot say, my enemies, that I hate you. 
For I often pray heaven to await you; 
And if my independent course displease you. 
Just go to the devil and let him squeeze you. 
Or burn you first, as you should choose ; 
He'll get you if to pray you refuse. 
I pray for thee nearly every single night, 
And my conscience tells me I'm doing right. 

XLI. 

My conscience is clear in the eyes of Jesus, 
And the searching Eye which always sees us. 
My intentions are good; who says otheruuse 
I am bound to tell him he certainly lies; 
If lie be preacher, monk, priest, or friar, 
I still say he is no less the liar. 
I'm as independent as a wood-sawyer. 
Because I'm a littl(^ pettifogging laAvyer, 

XLII. 

But I'm not at all pleased with the calling — 
I like the law but hate so much brawling. 
Lawyers are becoming so thick, of late. 
He's called wise who can loudest prate; 
They are not judged by their worth or wit. 
Or the number of thieves they can acquit; 
He's a hero who can use most folly-tricks'^-^ 
Then he's prepared to enter politics, 

XLIII. 
He's the greatest hero, I think, upon the whole. 
Who can produce the blackest soul; 
He who can keep his worth revealed. 
And keep the thoughts of his heart concealed. 
He may assert then, without hesitation. 
That Congress Hall is his certain destination; 
For it takes but few words of instruction 
To show Congi-ess filled with corruption , 



46 SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 

XLIV. 

Of the sunny south I am a freeborn native, 
Her critical situation makes me meditative. 
Texas kicked up and swore she'd figlit — 
A persuasive bribe soon brought her right; 
Ten million dollars and a suspended sword 
Made her acknowledge her lawful lord — 
Whether 'twas fear of war or lust of gold, 
That is a secret which is as yet untold. 

XLY. 
'Tis a secret which time alone shall tell-^ 
Her heroes fought at San Jacinto well; 
There her best olood in swelling torrents poured; 
I can't think she feared the suspended s-word. 
I'm with the south, be she right or wrong, 
Die by the south shall be my nightly song. 
Yes, I'll sing it by day as well as night, 
To the death, if necessary — our cause is right. 

XLYI. 
Something will take place very distressing. 
If the north don't quit the south oppressing. 
Do you wish to rob us of our slaves'^ 
If so, give us our bloody graves; 
For gory graves we will ever demand 
Before we yield one foot of land. 
To use our own as we please is our right. 
Do so we shall, or we bravely fight. 

XLYII. 
Let the consequences forever rest on you 
If the constitution be broken through; 
We only demand what our fathers gave us — 
We'll have it or die, so Heaven save us. 
And to you, Mr. South Carolina Rhett, 
We are with you, so don't you fret; 
Don't be in such a hurry to secede. 
Perhaps you may soon rue the deed- 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 47 

XLVIII. 

Perhaps we may get redress from thezn yet. 
So hold on, I beseech you, Mr. Rhett. 
Recollect secession is a serious undertaking. 
It will set the whole globe to shaking; 
And what else I am unprepared for knowing 
But it may set blood in torrents to flowing. 
Wait awhile, then, the sword unsheath, 
And then we are with you to the death. 

XLIX. 

Then, hear ye the plan, which is mine. 
To shoulder our coffins, go to Dixon's line 
And there stop and dig our graves. 
And defend our wives, babes, and slaves; 
And let our motto always be, 
A gory grave we ask or victory. 
But let us not threat, hum and haw, 
But have redress by blood or law. 

L. 

Excuse me, reader, for trifling with your time — 
But you are not compelled to read my rhyme; 
You may ask, why I put this in my canto? 
My answer is, just because I want to. 
You are not bound to read it through. 
You are bound to acknowledge the canto true. 
But if it hath made you a little sneezy, 
A dose of ipecac, will make you easy. 

LI. 
If this don't, I certainly can assure you 
I have no idea what will cure you. 
I must yet acknowledge Uncle Sam my lieg 
So I'll get back to Worth and his siege. 
^'Hasten, Isabel, and leave thy love to fight; 
If I escape death we'll marry to-night; 
Send for the priest, kill the fatted calf, 
And I'll make Isabel my better half. 



Jjd SIEGE OF MOXTKREY. 

LII. 

"Frora goblet to goblet let sweet nectar flow, 
At our bridal liall let brilliant faces glow." 
On Isabel's cheek hung a crystal tear, 
"I will not leave thee alone, Bibo; here 
On my knees, dear Bibo, at thy feet, 
My deathly bane, I pray, let me meet." 
Her glossy tresses floated in the breeze. 
With her lily arms she embraces his knees, 

LIII. 
And bends her lovely features to the skies; 
Big drops of woe fill her streaming eyes; 
Balls flew like whizzing hail around, 
While bursting bombs plowed the ground 
Huge holes in the solid walls they tore, 
Through which heroes in myriads pour. 
Now on the breeze death winged his dart, 
And pierced Isabel's breast near the heart. 

LIV. 
Back to the bloody ground she goes. 
Her beauteous lashes as in sweet slumber close; 
Her sweet lips quiver but make no sound. 
Smoking gore gushes from the gaping wound; 
Her beauteous breast, covered with veins of blue. 
Gave a throb, then was silent too; 
Her little sword lay by her side — 
She liad stained it with a bloody tide. 

LV. 
Her lily hand still the weapon hold, 
Blade of steel and hilt of yellow gold; 
Never did a sword grace a hand so fair 
As that which rested in her fingers there. 
The left hand caught Bibo's knee as she fell. 
Who stood gazing on his bleeding Isabel, 
Who lay as beautiful as when in life 
She had sworn to be his constant wife. 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 49 

LYI. 

That hand which was soon to be forever his, 
On which he had often pressed a tender kiss; 
That breast wliich did with rapture fill. 
Those lips which did sw^eet nectai* 'still. 
That heart which once throbbed Avith joy- 
Beats no more for Bibo, the gallant boy; 
The rosy tint from her cheek hath ruslied. 
Her lips are still, her lovely voice hushed. 

LVII. 
Her sweet lips are stained with human gore, 
Which from her heart in torrents pour. 
Bibo stood transfixed, unable to move. 
Gazing on the face of his bleeding love; 
He opes his lips, he tries hard to speak. 
But his voice dies in a mournful shriek;' 
He stoops, on his knees he lays her head, 
"Speak, oh! mine own Isabel, art thou dead?" 

LVIII. 
O'er her heart his hand doth Bibo place. 
His tears wash the blood from her face. 
Hist, her heart moves! "Thank heaven," he cries; 
Hark! she moves her lips, now she opes her eyes; 
"Speak, oh! speak to thy own Bibo, dear; 
'Tis his own arms which hold thee here." 
"Yes! oh, yes, heaven hath heard my prayer, 
I breathe out my life in these arms so fair." 

LIX. 

Thus saying, her head she dropped on his breast, 

While her hands across his shoulders rest. 

Now, with a loud scream of bitter pain, 

Bibo fell bleeding to the plain; 

Full length on the bloodv sand he fell. 

In the very arms of his tleeding Isabel 

A ball had pierced his young shoulder through. 

From which torrents of" smoking gore flew. 



50 SIEGE OF MONTEREY 

LX. 

As thus he lay stretched on the earth, 
He -vras found by the gallant General "Worth, 
Who was anxious to know the hero's name, 
"Who fought with glory and died with fame. 
He gazes on the beautiful youth as he lies, 
"While big drops of sorrow fill his eyes: 
"What! hark, as I live here lies a dame; 
But, oh! she is dead! Oh! heaven, what a shame! 

LXI. 

"By the eternal powers of Jove, if I knew 
The infernal and lieartless traitor who 
Hath dared to strike this fatal blow. 
Which hath laid !<o much beauty low, 
I'd cut his head and shoulders apart. 
And dash my saber through his heart. 
Did we leave our homes, to lis so dear, 
To make war against damsels here? 

LXII. 
"Couldst thou not find men enough to kill, 
But must you the blood of beauty spill? 
Ho, ho, ho!" the warrior cries, 
"If I find the villain, by heaven he dies. 
Yes, this arm shall deal the deadly blow. 
Which shall send him down to hell below. 
But to cause such beauty to die all gory, 
Tlie perpetrator shall die unknown to gloiy. 

LXIII. 
"Take ye this beauteous corse," he cried, 
"To yon house, leave her on the inner side; 
Hasten too, at the peril of your life, 
Then get ye back to the bloody strife." 
His command his heroes quick obeyed. 
The beauteous corse from the field conveyed; 
On a couch they laid the beauteous dame, 
Tlien back to war straight they came. 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 51 

LXIY. 

Like lions across the field they flew, 
And plunged amid tlie bleeding ranks anew, 
And stirred up war with hell and malice, 
And the Mexicans now fled the Palace; 
Like frogs froin a log the cowards go, 
Falling from the ramparts to the ditcli below. 
Filling the air with their cowardly cries. 
Which echo like wolves along the skies; 

LXV. 

And like huge billows of ocean pour 
In thick succession against the shore; 
Little waves by large IdIHows hurled 
At rapid pace along the briny world; 
The large billows over the others roll 
And dash to fragments on the craggy shoal; 
So in confusion the Mexicans pour 
Down the hills wet with human gore. 

LXVI. 
The cannon over the wounded warrior rolls. 
Mashing their bones and crushing out their souls; 
From rank to rank the contagion flies. 
Filled is the air with the dying cries; 
East, west, north, and south they fell, 
And rush in crowds to the abodes of hell; 
Like wheat before the scythe they fall. 
Death's among some, confusion over all. 

LXVII. 

Each Anglo-Saxon his deadly foe engage, 
Destruction rolls around with hellish rage; 
Death stalks boldly across the field. 
And bids the wounded their spirits yield; 
His jaws are besmeared with human life. 
Yet he with malice stirs up tlie strife; 
He gluts his maw with smoking blood. 
Which foams around in a copious flood. 



52 SIEGE OF MONTEKET. 

LXVIII. 

His grim jaws smile vriih sheer delight, 
As he with joy beholds this bloody fight; 
He stalks boldly through the liquid five. 
Stirring up the foes with vengeance dire. 
Dying foes in ponderous heaps arise 
In bleeding towers toward the skies; 
The living mash out the wounded breath — 
All go to sleep in the dark abodes of death. 

LXIX. 
By whole brigades to earth they are hurled. 
And crowd to the realms of an eternal world; 
Groans on groans from their dying bodies rose, 
As their dying lashes fast forever close, 
Never on earth to Avake any more. 
But to wake in heaven or Lden's shore- 
To burn and burn at Satan's feet. 
Or sing and pray in heaven sweet. 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 53 



CANTO IV. 



I. 

Old Phoebus now drove his shining car 
Behind the western hills and stopped the war; 
Behind Cordilleras' hights he goes. 
And bids the day in darkness close. 
Cjnthia now mounts the vaulted blue, 
And across the heavens she swiftly flew; 
Across the broad earth she casts her light, 
And peeps down on Bishop's lofty higlit. 

II. 
Now from the fight Bragg swiftly wheeled. 
And drove his cannon from the field; 
Of their harness he had his coursers shorn, 
Rubbed them down and gave them needful corn, 
Washed their bloody flanks with cooling water, 
And bid them rest from their daily slaughter; 
Then himself to his sumptuous supper goes. 
Then closes his eyes in sweet repose. 

III. 
His heroes thus immortal Taylor addressed: 
"On your anns, to-ni,^ht, my* heroes, rest; 
*Tis true, the ground is chilly, the breeze is cold, 
But ye fight for glory, not for persuasive gold. 
Your present stations I bid ye maintain. 
To-morrow's light shall renew the war again. 
Recollect your glorious deeds done to-day. 
How ye have leveled the walls of Monterey. 



54 SIEGE OK MONTEREY. 

IV. 

"Glory fili.all crown every warrior's name 

Who liatli to-day earned his fame. 

I an observer of your deeds have been, 

Your ii^lorious conduct have I seen; 

I beheld you level the wall to earth — 

The Palace, too, is taken by General "Worth. 

Success shall crown your attions soon, 

"We'll liave the plaza'hy to-morrow's noon. 

V. 

"Let your last thought be to numbers kneel, 
No pangs of fear does the brave wan-ior feel; 
The coward drags a life of living death, 
And stains the earth with his breath; 
He seems to live, yd he daily dies; 
"Within his breast a deadly serpent lies, 
Which makes him his own shadow shun — 
Cursed be their names till time is done. 

VI. 
"And, oh! ye gallant youths of tender year,' 
Ye have won a name beauty blushes not to hear; 
If ye left lovers behind when here ye came, 
They shall with pride share your honored name. 
Happy nights shall roll across your breast. 
And on your brow your country's laurels rest. 
Heaven detests a coward, and loves the brave. 
And plants her honors around his grave. 

VII. 
"Honored be the earth which holds his clay. 
Fame points to where his brave ashes lay, 
And when the nation passes his pillow by 
A tear of gratitude drops from her eye. 
Doubly cursed be tlie coward's bed, 
His country mourns him not when ho is dead; 
But deep woe and unending shame 
Rest on all who inherit his name. 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 55 

VIII. 

"Cursed be the bed -whicli holds his dust. 
Let him bear his shame, his doom is just; 
Let him sleep on iu his detested bed, 
O'er -vrhich no tears of gratitude are shed. 
He lives a life unknown to glory. 
And finds a -welcome seat in purgatory — 
No home for cowards are the quiet skies. 
The realms of hell receive him when he dies. 

IX. 

"But how different is the brave hero's fate. 

Angels of heaven on his spirit wait, 

Ancl waft him through fields of liquid space. 

And welcome him to the ethereal race; 

And God himself always smiles to see 

The brave before him bend the suppliant knee; 

He hears their prayers and heals their woes. 

And to their souls his divine mercy shows. 

X 

"And now, ye heroes, rest till early morn, 
"When ye shall hear the signal honi, 
"Wliich shall bid you from slumber rise, 
And renew the race for this glorious prize; 
May angels watch o'er your lovely sleep. 
And may heaven your destiny ever keep; 
And till morn, my brave heroes, adieu." 
This saying towai'd his tent withdrew, 

XI. 

From Old Wbitey stripped the trappings gay. 
Gave him the juicy corn and milky hay; 
Heaps of straw beneath his stall he spread, 
Making for his sUied a soft and easy bed, 
Kubbed his flanks, and then the silence broke. 
And thus the hero to his white courser spoke: 
"Eat, Wliitey, drink, and then repose, 
To-morrow we again shall meet our foes. 



56 SIEGE OF MOXTEREV. 

XII. 

"Thou hast toted mo through many a field of gore; 
For my sake thou hast the toils freely bore; 
We liave waded through many a bloody plain. 
So rest ye until danger calls us forth again." 
As if the steed understood what he meant, 
A glance of recognition at him sent, 
"Fear me not, all sliall be right," said he, 
"Early dawn shall find me Rough and Ready'* 

XIII. 
Then the immortal hero left his horse 
And to his spacious tent bent his course. 
Stripped the lieavy armor from his waist. 
By his couch his ponderous weapons placed; 
Tlien partook lie of his sumptuous fare 
Which waited for the gallant hero there. 
Across a pair of boxes the cloth was spread, 
He had no table — used boxes instead. 

XIV. 
On von side sits the gallant Major Bliss, 
While Capt. Bragg and Taylor occupy this; 
The end is occupied by gallant Col. Whiting, 
Who had done many gallant deeds at fighting; 
A golden lantern in the center shines, 
Now they fill their goblets with rosy wines; 
Taylor fills his goblet, at the head arose. 
And while a glittering tear on his lashes shows, 

XV. 

And on his cheeks swell big drops of sorrow, 
"Let us drink to our success on the morrow; 
May he who in the arms of victory dies 
Join the sacred race of the quiet skies; 
May he yield up the ghost without a sigh, 
And sail on angels wings' above the sky; 
And while his gore stains Spanish land. 
May his soul rest at God's right hand." 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 57 

XVI. 

"Amen," each and every brave warrior cries, 
Wliile briny drops fill tlieir streaming eyes. 
And now, the gallant toast being done. 
Placed the goblets down — the feast then begun; 
They partook of tea and ambrosial bread. 
Then each sought his separate bed. 
Who soon in sweet slumoer slept. 
As Morpheus o'er their heavy lashes crept, 

XVII. 
Darkness spreads her mantle along the ground. 
The earth is wrapped in silence profound, 
The living warrior's eyes in slumber close. 
On their arms they sink in sweet repose; 
On the cold ground each hero laid. 
Of his knapsack a downy pillow made; 
His thin blanket o'er his body drew. 
To shelter liira from the falling dew; 

XVIII. 

With his gory locks the gentle zephyrs play, 
While the dead on his couch of gore lay 
Wrapped in grim death's cold embrace. 
While their souls have joined the ethereal race; 
Their gallant limbs all cold and still. 
Bathed in blood, all stiff and chill; 
On his brow cold perspiration stood, 
Mixed with drops of clotted blood. 

XIX. 

The wounded lay on his couch of pain. 
While his life-blood pours like falling rain. 
"No tender mother has the soldier here. 
To drop for him a tender tear, 
To soothe his pillow and make his bed. 
And close his eyes when her son is dead, 
1^0 drop of pity for his suffering flows, 
Ko sister near to share his bitter woes. 



58 SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 

XX. 

No relation near he calls his o"srn, 
But dies neglected and all alone; 
But angels shall make his slumbers STi'eet, 
Their wings shall be his winding sheet, 
Their arms shall be his balmy grave; 
O'er his breast there no sorrows wave; 
Heavenly visions shall waft liim away 
To the golden streets of endless day; 

xxr. 

And all kings and nations must 
Pay homage to his brave and gallant dust; 
And all around his honored bed 
The nation's honor sliall be shed; 
Evergreens on his tomb shall rise 
To point where the brave warrior lies; 
The statesman wise and beauteous dame 
Shall honor do to his ever-glorious name. 

XXII. 
His offspring shall his honor always share, 
"Where'er they go, his glory meets them there; 
A grateful nation gives tliem welcome sweet, 
And from dames, smiles of beauty meet. 
Once on the field the name is won, 
'Tis handed down from sire to son — 
Blessed is the son whose gallant sire died 
On the field of battle's victorious tide. 

XXIII. 

All was now hushed as still as death, 

Save the low murmuring of the zephyr's breath^ 

As it wiiistled through the orange trees. 

And kissed the folia.^e with his gentle breeze; 

Nor was heard on all the hills around 

Any human voice, nor living sound. 

On the plain the drum in silence lay — 

As still as the tomb were the people of Monterey. 



SIEGE OF MOXTEREY. 59 

XXIV. 

The nightingale hath hushed his lonely song, 
Juan M^aved his silent course along; 
The southern sky is tinged with clouds of red, 
Cynthia gazes down on the gallant dead; 
On his cold brow she cast her smiling ray. 
As in the arms of death the hero lay; 
Clouds of smoke hung like a pall 
On Monterey's half-crumbled wall; 

XXV. 
And scattered in fragments o'er the field 
Lay many a broken saber and shattered shield; 
And banners which had proudly flew, 
Lay along the field in fragments, too; 
Hungry wolves by whole myriads pour 
Along Juan's beauteous but bloody shore; 
They gnaw the bones and glut their maws 
On flesh that died in freedom's cause. 

XXVI. 

W ith their jaws the hero's flesh they tore ; 
From their jaws streams the smoking gore; 
They heed not the dying hero's groans. 
But cranch his flesh and gnaw his bones. 
And the hungry dogs, too, strut aloiag, 
"While savage panthers increase the throng; 
And all join in their banquet fresh. 
Of hero's blood and gallant flesh. 

XXVII. 

"No sound as yet disturbs the warrior's rest, 
Save the tramp of the wolves ai\d on they prest; 
And that which to me extremely odd is. 
That wolves won't eat Mexican bodies; 
They would starve for carnage fresh 
Ere they would eat a Spaniard's flesh. 
Some say 'tis the garlick which tliey eat, 
Which makes wolves refuse their meat. 



60 SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 

XXVIII. 

Nevertheless, they to devour it refused, 
And begged to be therefore excused. 
Hark! -what a piteous, heart-rending yell, 
Which broke ttirough the silent spell; 
The wolves stood transfixed on the ground, 
Surprised to hear this mournful sound. 
Hist! thev hear the piteous yell again, 
They cock their tails and leave the plain. 

XXIX. 

Again, and again the fair damsel shrieks; 
'Tis Isabel, who for her lover seeks. 
The ball had passed near her heart 
And fortunately missed a vital part. 
On tlie left breast made the gaping wound, 
And then glanced her ribs around; 
So she fell, and we thought lier dead. 
And as such left her on her bed. 

XXX. 

But she awoke as from a sweet repose. 
And for her lover o'er the field she goes; 
That lover whom she loved so well, 
Well doth she remember wliere Bibo fell. 
With despair depicted on her angelic face, 
To the Palace she bends her pace; 
There the intentions of the damsel were 
To seek the body of her lover dear. 

XXXI. 

Around her snowy neck her tresses hung, 
Aloud she screamed, her hands she wrung; 
She filled the breeze with her wails, 
And tore her flesh with her nails. 
While copious streams of bitter woe 
Down her cheeks in succession flow. 
She smote her lieart in deep despair 
And pulled from her brow her glossy hair. 



SIEGE OF MONTEREr. 61 

f^* XXXII. 

Now she stoops and turns a body o'er, 
And wipes from its brow the clotted gore; 
Then gazes in its face with an anxious stare, 
Bathes its lips in tears from those eyes so fair; 
She gazes on its face through the moonlight dim, 
**0h! heaven," she cries, "'tis him, 'tis him; 
Do I awake, is this Bibo whom I see? 
Speak, dear Bibo, speak! Oh! heavens, speak to 
me! 

XXXIII. 
*'Thou art not dead, oh! no," she cries, 
"Such angelic beauty never, never dies. 
Oh! blind, yes blind, unconscious lead. 
Thou couldst not strike my lover dead; 
Thou shouldst have missed thy deadly aim, 
And fell at my lover's feet with shame; 
His flesh thou shouldst not have tore; 
How darest thou to spill my Bibo's gore? 

XXXIV. 
"Oh! death, thou blind, unrelenting foe. 
Thou shouldst not have struck him low. 
If ye his beauty could have shared. 
His life thou Avouldst have spared; 
But thy blind and envious sword 
Hath robbed me of ray beauteous lord; 
Perhaps ye thought to kiss him, lead. 
And missed thine aim and killed him dead. 

XXXV. 

"Oh! heavens, restore my lord and heal ray woe; 
What hath he done that ye kill him so? 
He was beautiful, generous, and brave. 
Why should he meet this untimely grave? 
Oh! thou great and supreme King on high. 
Thou who rulest earth, hell, and the sky, 
Thou who made earth, sea, and all. 
At whose command worlds rise and fall; 



4Si SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 



XXXVI. i| 



"Thou "wliose eye at one single Avinl 
Makes empires fall, whole nations sink; 
And bid'st the sea in stormy billows roll, 
And shakest the globe from pole to pole; 
Tliou who raadest the ethereal race 
And created tliem a heavenly place; 
And made sky, sun, moon, and ground, 
And paved heaven with gold around. 

XXXVII. 
"Thou who in an instant done all this. 
Vouchsafe to leave thy throne of bliss; 
For one moment leave thy matchless race 
And cleave the fields of liquid space, 
And hear the prayers of a betrothed wife; 
Bring her intended lord back to life, 
And on our knees our lives we'll spend 
And worship thee till time shall end." 

XXXVIII. 
Then she ceased, and wiped away lier tears — 
Hark! what sound is that she hears? 
"Tis, oh! Heaven grant; hist! yes, 'tis; 
That voice is Bibo's; yes, 'tis only his." 
She places her lily hand over his heart; 
'Tis wann, it moves; now his lashes part. 
His eyes now gaze around — now they close; 
The color on his cheek comes, now goes; 

XXXIX. 

It rushes to the skin, makes a crimson stain, 

Then all is as pale as death again. 

She seats herself on the earth where he lies, 

And rests Bibo's head on her thighs; 

She keeps one hand on his heart closely pressed. 

To feel if his blood was lulled to rest; 

It slightly moved, then loudly beat — 

She bathed his lips with kisses sweet. 



8IEGE OF MONTEREV. 63 

XL. 

And now his eyes open fully Avidc; 
^'Am I ill heaven, earth, or hell?" he cried; 
"Do I dream, or what phantom do I see? 
Speak, Isabel, speak, is it thee?" 
"Yes, dear Bibo, 'tis thine own Isabel; 
Thou hast bravely fought and here you fell; 
But be silent, attempt not to speak, 
Your strength is gone, your voice is weak." 

XLI. 
Now his head to her breast she rears, 
"Merciful heaven hath heard my prayers. 
I have prayed long, nor prayed in vain. 
For God hath given thee back again; 
He hath healed my woes and deep alarms. 
And restored thee to mine anxious arms; 
He hath given thee back the breath of life. 
And answered the prayers of a loving wife." 

XLII. 
Yes, reader, 'tis nevertheless and surely true 
That Isabel lives, and young Bibo too. 
In his shoulder the ball a passage found. 
But, thank Heaven, made no mortal wound. 
With Isabel's tears, which swiftly pour, 
She washed from the wound the clotted gore. 
Took her apron from her slender waist. 
And on Bibo's wounds the gariiient placed. 

XLIII. 
Quick from his wound did Bibo recover. 
Then back to his home conveyed his lover. 
And bid her in sweet slumber there remain. 
Till they in peace should meet again. 
"Stay, fiibo, stay, leave not thy Isabel alone; 
All is dim, all is dull when thou art gone." 
"My love, I cannot, I must no longer stay; 
Duty bids me go, I must away " 



64 SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 

XLTV. 

A long sweet kiss he took, then withdrew. 
And to his father's castle then he drew; 
His wearied limbs on his couch he throws. 
And soon was wrapt in sweet repose. 
Now, reader, let us leave him here. 
Till early dawn in the east appear. 
And shed her light along the plain. 
And call the heroes to bloody strife again. 

XLV 

I had better close this Canto here, I guess, 

For I have made of it an awful mess; 

But I'll do better in the next or freeze, 

For I should guess you are tired of these. 

But I am tired and hungry just now, 

I'll have something to eat or kick up a row; 

A man half starved cannot write, 

But empty his maw if you'd have him fight. 

XLVI. 
Esau sold his birthright for a beef-steak, 
But I'd sell mine now for a pancake. 
Or for anything at all in the eating line, 
I'd sign a bill of sale to all of mine. 
To keep my temper is a thing I can't, 
Nor make a rhyme when I am gaunt. 
My muse hath no patience in her. 
So I'll drop my pen and go to dinner. 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 65 



THE SECOND DAY'S SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 



CANTO Y. 
I. 



Here, reader, I begin another Canto, new, 

So come , let's get to work, gentle muse. 
On thy wings you must tote me through. 

So 'tis unnecessary for thee to refuse. 
I have had my dinner and a frolic. 

And spent a goodly sum of money. 
I've also had a spell of cramp colic. 

But now I feel fair, fat, and funny. 

II. 

My muse hath now broke her fetter, 

And my ideas are very much expanded. 
And I think I can express 'em better. 

If I have to get them second handed. 
I don't profess to be a famous writer — 

I am nothing but a little poetaster; 
Neither am I any very extensive fighter. 

And a d — d bad hand am I to plaster, 

III. 

But whatever passes into my ideas first. 

Whether it be wise, just, or lawful, 
I must express it or I should burst. 

And that, you know, would be awful. 
I don't intend to be so serious here. 

As I have always been heretofore; 
And if you don't like it, my dear sir. 

Just lay it down and read no more. 



66 SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 

IV. 

No one shall compel thee to read it, 

And if your money is growing slack 
Just come to me if you need it. 

And you shall have your money back; 
As I have said once in the beginning, 

I don't ask vou for your pelf; 
No applause do I care about winning, 

But I scribble only to amuse myself. 

V. 
*Tis ray desire to be friendly with all. 

To meet on the square and part on theleV^,'^ 
And if you will be my foe after all, ^ 

You can just take a trip to the devil; 
Or you can go to heaven if they'll let thee, 

But you will have to quit your ways of sin 
And resist the temptations that beset thee. 

Else St. Peter will not let you in. 

VI. 
You know St. Peter is the keeper of the gate, 

And he keeps his books always posted, - 

And if you don't reflect ere it's too late. 

In hell you'll certainly be roasted. 
Pronounce rae not a wicked youth. 

For writing these most wicked rhymes. 
For what I've wrote is the holy truth. 

Of which you'll be convinced one of theses 
times. 

VII. 

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's servant, f 

At least so says the most Holy Bible; 
Of its contents have I been observant. 

And if it aint true I'll sign a libel. 
Neither shalt thou commit adultery. 

Nor no lustful passions feel; 
It matters not if the climate is sultry — 

Neither shalt thou any money ste£j. 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 67 

VIII 

Thou shalt not spill thy brother's gore, 

Nor thy neig'hbor's property covet; 
Thou shalt not keep thy seed in store. 

But deal it out to those who love it. 
The Scripture commands us to multiply 

And the population of earth increase; 
Those who refuse shall surely die; 

Those who do shall live in peace. 

IX. 

And if heaven lets me live, I will — 

I intend to obey that latter clause, 
For I love to obey my master's will. 

And regard the precepts of his righteous laws. 
Thou shalt honor thy father and mother. 

That thy days on earth shall be protracted; 
Tliy evil passions thou shalt always smother, 

Lest thy soul should soon be extracted. 

X. 

Heaven glories in an ever dutiful son. 

And joys in the name of a dutiful daughter, 
And if you wish the gates of hell to shun. 

Have your head sprinkled with holy water. 
I don't profess to be a licensed preacher. 

Nor do I wish at all to reprimand thee, 
Neither do I pretend to bo a Gospel teacher — 

On that score I wish you to understand me. 

XL 

There are men who are always preaching virtue. 

Charity, meekness, morality, and religion. 
And command you to do that which'll hurt you. 

Which is to undergo the laws of circumcision; 
They point out a road themselves never go. 

And tell you 'tis the road to endless bliss. 
And pass on you the sentence of endless woe. 

If you refuse his christening rod to kiss. 



68 SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 

XII. 

When man gets too lazy to work for bread, 

And his prospects grow exceedingly dim — 
God calls a wise man, he'll answer instead, 

And make you believe God called for him. 
Then to the pulpit the fool always resorts, 

And follows the art of saving souls as a calling; 
And then, oh! lieaven, how he snorts. 

And wears out his lungs at bawling. 

XIII. 
He tells you to believe and be baptized, 

While his sentences are all together crammed; 
If you don't do as he tells you all is capsized, 

And in hell you must all be damned. 
One will point out that road, another this, 

'Tis first this, that, and then the other; 
One says you must kneel at the throne of bliss. 

And some will bid you kneel to Mary Mother. 

XIV. 
Perhaps you may think my brain is cracked? 

I don't care a button if you do, 
For what I write is a pure matter of fact. 

Which experience shall prove to you. 
Perhaps you may curl your lip with scorn. 

And for my rhymes try to capsize me? 
I acknowledge that I'm a little greenhorn. 

But woe be unto him who tries me. 

XV. 

But let these matters pass for the present. 

And I'll get back to my proper story. 
For it is to me extremely pleasant 

To write of love, war, and glory. 
We left all the soldiers sleeping sound, '- * 

Some in the arms of deata reposing; 
Others strown in groups along the ground ■•*• 

In the arms of sweet Morpheus dozing. 



SIEGE OF MOMEREY. 69 

XVI. 

We left Old Zack in his spacious tent 

With sweet 'slumbers o'er his features rolling, 
While to his couch Capt. Bragg had went, 

And wolves on the plain were strolling; 
We left Isabel with pure love a swelling. 

While angels her guard were keeping. 
We left Bibo at his father's dwelling, 

Stretched on his downy pillow sleeping. 

XVII. 

But now from old ocean proud Phcebus sprung, 

His wings across the broad earth he threw; 
A warm ray across the plain he flung. 

And chased away the misty clouds of dew; 
Be chased the dark mists of night away. 

And bid darkness leave the world. 
Be drove her dusky mantle before his ray. 

Then across vegetation his light he hurled. 

XVIII. 
roud Cynthia sunk behind the west; 
The stars all left the vaulted blue; 
The comets hid their shining crest, 

And all the meteors their cars withdrew; 
^nd on the shining portals of heaven stood 

Saint Michael, Paul, and Peter, 
iind bid them deluge earth with human blood. 
With cainnon, bomb, carabine, and repeater. 

XIX. 

)ld Zack sprang from his slumber sweet; 

lie seized his brass trump of w^ar, 
Vliich rested near the old hero's feet, 

Put it to his lips and blew a thundering jar; 
he shrill notes moixnted tlie wings of air 

And shook earth and hell around, 
Ichoed agfvinst the towering mountains there. 

Then rolled in waves along the ground. 



7X) SIEGE OF MOMTEREY. 

XX. 

To his feet every living warrior sprung, 

As the sound dashed his hard pillow by, 
Across his shoulder his huge weapons flung, 

And resolved to fight with fame or in glory diflu 
Bragg leaped from his slumber, too. 

And swift to his war coursers goes; 
On their backs the shining harness threw. 

And thus prepared again to meet liis foes. 

XXI. 

His instruments of war into battery wheeled, 

Then seized the shining reins in his hand 
And daslied like a god over the field. 

And as he went shook the solid land. 
His destructive thunder rung along the plain. 

Shaking Cordilleras to their utmost base, 
Pouring his deadly pills once again 

Among the ranks of the Spanish race. 

XXII. 

Human blood again in big torrents pour. 

In deadly combat the dying foes engage; 
Bragg's artillery, like Jove's thunder, roar. 

Mutual death they deal with mutual rage. 
As Bibo slept he heard the awful sound, 

He arose all pale as marble white 
From the effects of his bleeding wound, 

Received at the Bishop's lofty hight. 

XXIII. 

But in an instant he leaps from his bed. 

Seizes his sword and mounts his steed, 
Notwithstanding the day before had bled. 

Fully determined again to bleed. 
His friends plead, but plead in vain. 

That he should not enter the strife: 
"I have resolved to meet my foes again 

Asd avenge the blood of my betrothed wife. 



oIEGE OF MONTEREY. 71 

XXIV. 
"Were all the powers of earth now to rise, 

Aided by all the black devils in hell, 
A.nd bid me forbear the battle cries. 

Yet I would avenge the blood of Isabel. 
Hath not the American spilled her gore. 

And in that swelling breast of snow 
A hideous wound the demons tore, 

And laid my beauteous lover low? 

XXV. 

"Wouldst thou have me in indolence repose. 

Compel me alone here to remain, 
I While my brother to battle goes. 

And my country bleeds at every vein? 
N"o, no, revenge shall lend me aid, 

Isabel's blood shall loudly cry 
And bid me use this destructive blade. 

And I'll obey the call or in honor die. 

XXVI . 
* 'Tis true, I'm weak from loss of blood. 

But before yonder sun sets again 
ALUother mightier and bigger flood 

Shall flow along that flowery plain. 
This arm shall my ponderous saber wield. 

And the wounds of Isabel avenge; 
3o, adieu, mother, I must ofi" to the field, 

For my country's blood calls for revenge." 

XXVII. 

He mounts his noble steed of pitchy black, 

And swift toward the carnage goes, 
A. lingering look he glances back, 

A searching look at Isabel's cottage throws; 
And, oh! heavens, what a sight he sees: 

A damsel he 'spies, he knows her well. 
She kisses the earth Avith her tender knees — 

'Tis she, oh! yes, 'tis his beauteous Isabel! 



72 SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 

XXVIII. 

She prays to the King of heaven above; 

She prays for her country and Bibo, too; 
And what is tliere that woman's love 

Will not for her intended husband do? 
Bibo drew the beauteous damsel near, 

His steed to a willow branch he tied: 
"Oh! Isabel, what dost thou, my angel, here?" 

"Oh! Bibo, I thought thee dead," she cried. 

XXIX. 
"Oh! Bibo, for my sake," the maiden cries. 

As she fell on her knees by his side, 
"While big drops of woe stream from her eyes, 

"Stay with thy Isabel to-day," she cried. 
"With whom shall I spend my lonely hours, 

Amid the jessamine flowers and roses sweet, 
Amid those beauteous enchanting bowers. 

Where we so often by twilight meet? 

XXX. 

"Where we have spent so many hours of bliss? 

I felt it glow through my eveiy vein, 
And when on my lip you pressed a kiss 

I paid thee back with two as sweet again, 
And when you gazed in my eyes 

I never attempted to refuse you; 
Thine own Isabel surely dies. 

If from her arms she should loose you, 

XXXI. 

"In thine arms did I not drink delight, 

And through my veins like electricity 
My hot blood coursed its hasty flight; 

^Vhat more could Ave ask than such felicity? 
More yet to thee, Bibo, shall be given, 

And, if thou wilt but ask it. 
Thou shalt have the key to heaven — 

Or, if you please, the key to beauty's casket. 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 73 

XXXII. 

"Thou shalt behold hills of driven snow. 

Which like two towering beacons rise. 
And thou shalt graze at ease below, 

On the manna whicli 'neath them lies. 
I'll not refuse thee a tender kiss, 

But my lips to thine are always free; 
Thou shalt taste of all the hidden bliss 

That is possessed at all by me. 

XXXIII. 
"Thou shalt such hidden secrets know. 

As thou didst never know before, 
If thou wilt not to the battle go. 

But remain with me forevermore; 
Thy life is too precious for wasting; 

Vouchsafe to hear my prayers, Bibo dear, 
I have secrets which are worth the tasting 

If thou wilt stay with thy love here. 

XXXIV. 
"I'll show the ivory gate of heaven to tliee. 

If thou wilt from the bloody battle stay; 
And of the lock I give the key. 

And, oh! the bliss that inward lay 
Shall thine own, and only thine, ever be; 

None with thee shall share the bliss. 
And without toll the gate always free — 

To be entered with a single kiss. 

XXXV. 

"On Juan's flowery banks we'll stray, 

Whose murmur in sweet accent flows. 
We'll cull the sweet flower of May 

Which in budding meadows grows; 
Thou shalt drink at a lovely fountain. 

Which hath been ardently sought by many. 
As pure as e'er gushed from yon mountain — 

And as yet never tasted by any. 



54 SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 

XXXVI. 

"This spring never as yet knew a stain, 

But as pure as the sweet antl budding rose, 
'Tis tlie holy spot and living vein 

From whence man's existence flows; 
Its banks are as white as driven snow. 

Rising by degress rough and obscure, 
And tangled flowers in abundance grow 

Around this fount of bliss so pure. 

xxxvn. 

"Crowned heads in vain have sighed. 

But all in vain thev sigh, and presents bring; 
Monarchs, too, in vain have tried 

To procure a draught at this living spring — 
The fount once muddied never clears again, 

But unhallowed hands keep it so; 
The blast shall forever there remain. 

It cannot be eff'aced by tears of woe. 

XXXVIII 
"H'o mortal man beneath the skies 

Can guess the sweetness of this fount. 
Save he who the hidden nectar tries. 

And tastes it on his own account* 
Heaven itself lurks in the fort. 

Alabaster walls surround the gate. 
Snowy beacon^s point out the port, 

Ambrosial food within them wait. 

XXXIX. 

" 'Tis as pure as heaven's descending dew. 

As fragrant as the jessamine or the rose; 
All this, Bibo, shall belong to you. 

If thou wilt shun thy deadly foes. 
"What is honor? 'tis a worthless name: 

What is death? alas! 'tis a fearful thing. 
Relinquish thy thought of glory and fame. 

And feast thou on this living spring. 



SIEGE OF MOMTERET. 75 

XL. 

**Away Trith such notions of praise, 

Ana in these anxious arms consent to d"vrell; 
Near the brook let our cottage rise, 

Where 'tis no harm to love too \rell; 
Where I shall always feast mine eyes 

On those sparkling orbs of thine; 
No star that lives in the quiet skies 

Half so bright as they can shine. 

XLI. 

"Let us bask beneath the orange tree. 

Where no eye doth gaze or serpent hiss, 
And then thine shall only be 

The key to a heaven of bliss. 
In which no mortal hath ever been. 

On which no human eye did ever gaze 
Thou shalt taste what lurks within. 

And on the balmy verdure graze. 

XLII. 
"And now, since all this I promise thee. 

Wilt thou not from the battle stay? 
Or wilt thou tear thyself away from me. 

To be slain by thy deadly foes to-day? 
On my knees to thee I humbly bow, 

And beseech thee, my own Bibo, dear. 
Drive not thy Isabel from thee now. 

But consent to stay with her here." 

XLIII. 

As thus she spoke her beauteous eyes 

Filled with large drops of bitter woe. 
While thus to her young Bibo replies: 

"Honor calls me, Isabel; I'm bound to go; 
The bliss you offer me I know is sweet. 

Which from the living fountain flows; 
But my country bids me meet 

And die or conquer her deadly foes. 



76 SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 

XLIV. 

"Hark! dost thou not hear her cries? 

Dost thou not hear the cannon roar? 
Dost not see heaps of bodies rise, 

All stained with human gore? 
Dost not see our brothers dying? 

Dost not see them bravely fall? 
Dost not hear 'em for quarter crying? 

BuJ, they in vain for mercy call. 

XLV. 
"She demands my aid, I must obey, 

Love must now be laid aside; 
Adieu, I must to the field away," 

And swift he dashes to the bleeding tide; 
Prone to earth the damsel falls, 

And as in death closes her eyes; 
An ashy color o'er her features crawls, 

As like a blasted rose the maiden lies. 

XLVI. 
The dew-drops, all cold and chill. 

Stood thick on her marble brow; 
Her lips quivered once, then stood stilly 

And as death all was silent now. 
Like an angel of heaven she lies, 

With her tresses gentle zephyrs play; 
Her lashes half vailed her eyes; 

As crystal tears in silence stray. 

XLYII. 
Across her breast her lily fingers fold. 

Unstained by guilt, crime, or vice. 
Once warm, but now as chill and cold 

As frozen sheets of mountain ice. 
Amid the carnage does Bibo ride 

Avenging his country's bleeding wrong; 
Death spreads around hira wide. 

Yet he rides "without fear along. 



SIEGE OF MONTEREV. 77 

XLVIII. 

Every stroke of his well-aimed blade 

Lays a bleeding foeman before his feet: 
"Close thine eyes in death's eternal shade," 

Bibo cries, "for revenge is sublimely sweet." 
He dashes amid the thickest of his foes. 

The way he went was paved with gore, 
And ponderous heaps of dying foes 

Marked the course the hero bore. 



78 BIEGE Or MONTEREY. 



CAIs'TO VI. 



I. 

Ho ! to the charge comes the immortal Hays, 

From his eyes fierce vengeance blaze, 

Deatli flashes from his fieiy eye 

As he hears his brothers groan and die. 

He sees him in agony gasping for breath. 

Then close liis eyes in the dusky shades of death. 

A deathly cast creeps his countenance o'er 

As he falls to sleep to wake no more. 

n. 

On a snowy steed the warrior rode. 
Across the'^field like great Hector strode 
Dyin^ heroes marked the hero's way, 
"VVhich in ponderous heaps behind him lay, 
He and Gonzallo now together meet. 
Hays stretched him dying at his feet; 
His lance at Hays Gonzallo sent. 
Harmless by his head the javelin went: 

III. 
Then Hays his heavy holster drew 
And shot Gonzallo's shoulder tlirough. 
Swift back to the plain the hero fell, 
And closed his eyes in the shades of hell. 
While rivers of human brains and blood. 
Dash along the plain in copious flood. 
Huge heaps of dying heroes continually rise, 
lo towering heaps toward the skies. 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 79 

IV. 

Face to face two heroes now engage, 
Dealing blow for blow with mutual rage. 
Bibo shot the young hero through the head, 
And young Allen lies before him dead. 
He, who many a deadly foe had made 
Close their eyes in death's eternal shade. 
Now lies bleeding on Spanish sod, 
His soul flies to the mercy- seat of God. 

V. 

The jaws of death are with gore rife. 
As he gluts his maw on human life, 
Duncan's artillery comes thundering loud. 
All wrapt from sight in a smoky shroud. 
On the chariot doth the hero stand 
And holds the wand of death in his hand: 
Every time his guns were heard to sound, 
A hundred foes bit the bloody ground; 

VI. 

Hu^e holes in the old cathedral tore. 

And destruction on the inmates pour. 

His snowy steeds all steeped in blood. 

Which strearasfrom their flanks in a copious flood. 

And as his smoking wheels roll around. 

Kill the wounded on the bloody ground, 

Mash the soul and body apart. 

And tear out the hero's heart, 

VII. 
As over their mutilated bodies wheeled. 
Dragging their guts in ropes along the field. 
Mashing skulls and letting out their brains. 
Scattering them like snow along the plains. 
His guns like Jove's awful thunder roar — 
Smoking tides from his axles pour, 
Dveing with gore the sprigs of grass 
Wliich streams down as on they pass. 



11^ aiEGE OF MONTEBET. 

VIII. 

Oceans of blood clashed from the ranks. 
Swelling with gore Juan's flowery banks. 
Clouds of black smoke, like a pall, 
Hung over friends, foes, and all. 
In the sun ten thousand lances shine, 
Bragg belches his pills along the line, 
Wrapping them all in a sheet of living fire, 
Blood, smoke, and destruction dire. 

IX. 
Inch by inch the Mexicans yield. 
Inch by inch Taylor takes tlie field. 
Broken bones and scattered brains 
Lie in huge heaps along the plains. 
Heaven with awe beholds the dreadful sight, 
And Satan stirs up the bloody fight. 
And with deliglit on the carnage look — 
Old Cordillera to her center shook. 

X. 

Now the Mexicans in great confusion retreat. 
And dash frightened along the gory street. 
They rally, then the deadly charge renew. 
And wade where bullets thickest ileAV. 
As along the plain Bibo swiftly rode. 
His steed received a musket load, 
Which was aimed full at his own heat), 
But killed his steed in his stead, 

XI. 

And swift to the earth his rider hurled. 
In the precincts of a bloody world; 
Full at his breast Camden aimed a blow, 
But an invisible arm struck him low; 
Bibo sprung to his feet, anxious to know 
What mend had preserved him so. 
Ha ! what do his streaming optics see ? 
Isabel! good heaven ! yes, 'tis none but she. 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 81 

XII. 

"And 'tis to tliee I owe my life !" he cries. 
While tears of joy fill his anxious eyes. 
" But, ah ! my angel, my lovely bride. 
Hasten from this bloody battle tide; 
This is no place for female hearts, 
But for those who can face a thousand darts. 
Quick, sweet Isabel, from danger fly. 
Such beauty was not made to die." 

XIII. 

At his feet the young damsel falls : 

" I fear not the deadly darts and whizzing balls. 

My heart feels no pain, knows no fear, 

"Wlien I am by mv young lover dear. 

Drive me not, oh! Bibo, from thy side. 

But let me with you in the battle ride." 

And thus she ceased her piteous cries, 

Then at his feet in silence lies. 

XIV. 
Bibo raised her from the bloody ground. 
And threw his amis her waist around. 
" Isabel, bid those cries of sorrow cease. 
And lull thy bitter Avoes to peace. 
For thou shalt remain with me. 
Each others' arms our graves sh^l be* 
*Tis to thee my worthless life I owe, 
I cannot drive thee from me so." 

XV. 

On another steed Bibo mounts again. 

And rides proudly along the plain. 

He sits on a steed of spotless bay, 

Whose shaggy mane around his shoulders play. 

Head erect, nostrils stretched awide. 

Proud of the charge which on him ride. 

On his shoulders golden epaulets shined, 

His plume floating from behind. 



09 SIEGE OF MONTEBEY. 

XVI . 
From liis eyes unshrinking courage blazed. 
As with defiance on his foes he gazed. 
His reeking saber grasped in his hand, 
A cloud of warriors thick about him stand. 
Mounted on a noble steed by Bibo's side, 
Did beauteous Isabel proudly ride, 
An ashy color crept her features o'er. 
The effect of wounds received the day before. 

XVII. 

Carelessly she sits on her steed of black — 
Proud was he of the beauty on his back. 
Proudly along the plain the courser strode. 
As if d.elighted with his angelic load. 
Instead of wearing petticoats, like damsels do, 
She wore a pair of boots, and trowsers too, 
A velvet cap crowns her lovely head, 
Down eacli thigh appears a stripe of red. 

XVIII. 
From her cap three crimson feathers flew, 
Her coat and trowsers were of spotless blue ; 
A crimson scarf tied her waist around. 
And hung in mazy folds toward the ground. 
Calf-boots graced the maiden's feet. 
Which were small and fit her neat, 
A golden thong about her waist was tied. 
Suspending a polished saber near her side. 

XIX. 

Around that curving heel of hers. 
Are buckled a pair of golden spurs, 
Unbraided hung her luxuriant hair 
Around that heart so pure and fair — 
That breast on which ethereal beauty shone — 
That breast a dishonest thought had never known 
Wliat a heaven to gaze on those sparkling eyes ! 
But, oh ! the paradise that 'neath them lies. 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 83 

XX. 

She plunged witli Bi))o amidst tlie strife. 
Determined with him to lose her life. 
His very thoughts she seemed to know. 
She saved him twice from a deadly foe. 
As the fatal blow at his bosom thrust, 
She stretched the foe bleeding in the dust ; 
Small was the arm of youg Isabel, 
But a pair of foes by her hand have fell. 

XXI. 

From her eyes streams a crystal tear. 

But her features show no sign of fear. 

She grasped her little saber by the yellow hilt. 

Inlaid with ivory, and golden gilt; 

In human blood the blade was dyed, 

She clung like an angel near Bibo's side. 

Silver-mounted was her little saddle, 

And, like her lover, she rode a-straddle. 

XXII. 
Bibo and McNab meet in single fight. 
While Isabel with awe beholds the sight. 
Fierce they deal heavy blow for blow. 
And torrents of blood down their faces flow. 
As a butchered ox each hero bled. 
In swelling streams from his gory head. 
Bibo falls, and follows him McNab, 
Who at Bibo's breast made a heavy stab. 

XXIII. 

Again he poised high in air his dart, 
But Isabel plunged her lance in his heart. 
Who without a groan yielded his breath 
And saved Bibo from instant death. 
Bibo dropped on his knees at her feet. 
And pressed a kiss on her hand so sweet, 
While tears of gratitude fill his eyes. 
Thus to the beauteous damsel he replies : 



-H^ 8IE0E OP MONTEREY. 

XXIV. 

" Ere this thou didst rescue me twice, 

And now thou hast saved me thrice, 

How shall I e'er pay the debt I owe 

To thee, for saving'thy lover so V 

" I ask no recompense at all," she said, 

" Only to ever share thy nuptial bed, 

So arise, ray lover, from the dirt, 

And praise heaven thou art not severely hurt." 

XXV. 
He sprang in an instant from the plain. 
And soon was on his steed again. 
And plunged amidst the bloody tide. 
With Isabel still by his side. 
I^ow a cruel ball mounts the breeze. 
And pierced Isabel's thigh above the knees, 
Which from her steed the damsel throws. 
Her foot hangs in the stirrup as she goes. 

XXVI. 
Her frightened courser instantly wheeled. 
And dashed rapidly along the field, 
Dragging the maiden on the ground. 
Her shrieks echo on the hills around; 
Bibo hears her shrieks and groans, 
And sees his love dragged across the stones. 
With electric speed the frightened courser flies. 
While for lielp the suffering damsel cries. 

XXVII. 
Bibo's heart doth with bitter agony bleed. 
He dashed the rowels in his steed, 
And swift after his love he flies. 
While despair flashes from his eyes; - 
He drew his holster, as the last hope expired. 
And at Isabel's frightened courser fired, 
The ball pierced him through the side. 
And down he goes, aiid instantly died. 



6IEGE OF MONTEREY. 85 

XXVIII. 
Bibo instantly sprang from liis horse, 
And seized Isabel's lifeless corse; 
Her foot from the stirrup released, 
Her heart was still, her breath had ceased. 
As in dfeath was closed her angelic eyes, 
"While the blood gushed from her thighs. 
A surgeon soon to her assistance came, 
And dressed the wounds of the bleeding dame. 

XXIX. 
Around her tender thighs of alabaster, 
Tliey stanched the blood with adhesive plaster. 
Then spread the spotless linen o'er, 
When her precious blood had ceased to pour. 
To old Pedro's dwelling they then conveyed, 
On a palanquin, the wounded maid; 
Bibo kissed the pale lips of Isabel, 
Then bade her a tender farewell, 

XXX. 
Then back to the carnage he came. 
To revenge the blood of the beauteous dame- 
He blazes liis way with dying foes, 
\Vhich mark tlie way the hero goes. 
Death was now glutted with slaughter. 
The heroes fainting for food and water. 
Still eveiy hero disputes each foot of ground. 
While destruction still reigns around. 

XXXI. 

But Isabel did not at home remain. 

Her wound did so very slight prove, 
She mounts and off to the war again, 

And soon was riding by her love. 
Bibo's cheek brightened with delight 

While he was wading through the strife; 
When who should meet his sight 

But Isabel, his intended wife. 



86 SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 

XXXII. 

Side by side, as they had done before, 
Each mounted on a second steed. 

Dashed amid the seas of human gore, 

Anxious with their brother heroes to bleed 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 87 



THE SECOND DAY'S SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 



CANTO VII. 

I. 

Ampudia now brings his reserve to bear, 

Who like a black cloud of locusts pour 
Around their half-conquered leader there, 

Forming a solid phalanx along the shore; 
Into solid legions his fresh troops wheel; 

Each on his shoulder bears a ponderous lance; 
Five thousand sabers, all of polished steel 

Glittering in the bright rays of the sun advance. 

II. 

As they move along the plain, their heavy tramp 

Shakes old Cordilleras to its very base; 
Clouds of black dust form along the camp. 

And settle on every Spanish face. 
The heroes now engage anew, man to man; 

Each warrior singles out himself a foe, 
"With redoubled rage the war anew began. 

And fresh torrents of blood began to flow. 

III. 
Three young heroes well known to fame, 

Of whose deeds have all nations heard. 
Like gods of war among the carnage came; 

*Twas Chandler, Clarke, and Curd. 
Curd's steed was a spotless bay, 

Caparisoned with trappings of yellow gold; 
Chandler rode a courser of dapple-gray. 

Of giant size, and of fine-blooded fold; 



DO SIEGE OF MONTEREy. 

IV. 

And as black as the sable wing of the lark 

"Was the prond and well -proportioned steed, 
"Who bore on his back the gallant Clarke, 

And, like the other two was of noble breed. 
Clarke and Govall in single struggle join; 

Govall at Clarke hurleid his reeking lance 
"Which glanced around the warrior's loin; 

Then to a saber fight the heroes advance: 

V. 
At Clarke's heart Govall made a heavy thrust, 

But Clarke hacked his sword apart, 
Which fell in fragments to the bloody dust, 

Tlien dashed his steel through Govall's heart. 
"Hold," he cries, "I have got my gruel," 

As prone to the bloody ground he fell, 
As the lamp of life stopped her fuel, 

He closed his eyes in the shades of hell. 

VI. 
The Mexicans all drunk with human gore, 

Seeing the sad fate of the bi'ave Govall, 
Like fieiy lions on his slayer pour; 

Chandler at three strokes killed them all. 
The first stroke took off Gozereno's head, 

"Which rolled like a football down the hill. 
Leaving a bloody trail as on it sped, 

And fell at length in Juan's sparkling rill, 

VII. 

Then plunged his saber in Buvarro's breast. 

Tearing through his heart a hideous hole; 
He closed his yellow eyes in endless rest. 

As through the wound escaped his soul: 
Then turns he on his last remaining foe. 

His dripping steel high in air he hurled. 
And severed his body at a single blow, 

"Whose spirit fled to an eternal world. 



8IEGE OF MONTEREY. 89 

VIII. 

Curd and Casoose in single combat met, 

At each other's breast both lieroes leap, 
Casoose now pays nature's final debt, 

And closed his lashes in an unending sleep. 
He grasps the bloody weeds as he falls; 

Stretched at full length on the earth he lies; 
A deathly cast o'er his dying features crawls. 

And without a groan tne warrior dies. 

IX. 

Henderson and Laveza in carnage close; 

His falchion at Henderson, Laveza threw — 
Harmless by the hero's head it goes. 

Struck the earth and broke in two ; 
Then each one his ponderous saber draws. 

And gaze on each other with hellish rage; 
Then with awful fury broke the pause. 

And hand to hand in the fight engage. 

X. 

Full at his breast Laveza dashed his blade. 

But Henderson's saber poised the blow. 
Then a tremendous thrust at Laveza made 

And through his maw did his weapon go. 
Who sank to earth to rise never more; 

Henderson wrenches the steel from the wound. 
From which gushed a tide of smoking gore 

And stood in pools along the ground. 

XI. 
Now comes to the charge Mississippi's bravest son. 

Whose deeds are known to glory well, 
*Twas the brave and immortal Patterson; 

And by his side stood unshrinking Bell; 
Like Honaer's heroes both warriors advance. 

Such a feeling as fear neither of them knows; 
At Patterson's heart Don Fritz threw his lance. 

Which tore its way through the hero's clothes. 



90 SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 

XII. 

But fortunately made no serious hurt; 

Patterson his pistol drew from his side 
And stretched Fritz bleeding in the dirt. 

Who yielded up the ghost and died. 
While thus engaged witJi his deadly foe, 

Savarro sought to use the present chance; 
Behind Patterson's back did Savarro go. 

And sought to plunge in him his lance. 

XIII.. 
Bell seeing it, struck the traitor dead, 

In his side he made one mortal wound; 
Then lopped off his wretched liead, 

Wliicli left a bloody trail along tlie ground. 
As a lion stalks fearless from his den. 

With death flashing from his fiery eyes. 
Devouring both beasts and men; 

Filling earth with his hellish cries; 

XIV. 
Or as a tiger springs from his cave. 

Inflicting death on all in his way. 
So came General Quitman, the brave, 

While dying Mexicans around him lay. 
His right arm doth a polished saber hold, 

With shining blade and ivory hilt, 
O'er which a twist of shining silver rolled, 

Wild elks all carved in yellow gilt, 

XV. 
Appear, running frightened along tlie blade. 

And mimic dragons in waves of brass, 
In many coils along the saber laid. 

And wild deer grazing on bottom grass. 
In droves along the weapon stood; 

Near the first appears a spotted fawn 
Pursued by many hounds of blood, 

While sportsmen dash along the lawn. 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 91 

XVI. 

On his breast glittering armor glow's, 

A golden girdle his waist entAvines, 
And in waving tassels doAvn-ward flows, 

And with dazzling beauty shines. 
On a steed of giant size does he ride. 

And o'er his shining saddle was flung 
A leopard's beauteous and many -colored hide, 

Which on each side in waving tassels hung. 

XYII. 
On his hind-feet his horse for an instant stood. 

With his head high toward the skies; 
The smoking ranks he closely viewed, 

While storm of death around him flies. 
In his left hand Quitman seized the rein, 

And grasped his reeking blade in his right, 
Then dashed like a direful god o'er the plain 

And plunged amid the thickest of the fight. 

XVIII. 

Face to face now lie and Roleo meets. 

Through Roleo's heart Quitman plunged his 
steel; 
While tlie color from Roleo's face retreats — 

He fell dead near Quitman's bloody heel. 
Yezaro saw his brother fall and die, 

He sought to avenge his untimely death; 
But Quitman stretched him his brother by. 

And both closed their eyes in the shades of 
death. 

XIX. 
Both brothers lay closed in each other's arms. 

Like passionate lovers their bodies lay 
As if feasting on each other's charms, 

Like lovers do soon after their marriage day. 
Their eyes seem closed in slumber sweet, 

Their blood mingles together on the sod, 
Their souls in each other's embrace retreat 

To the shining mercy-seat of God. 



92 SIEGE OF MOXTEEEY. 

XX. 

01(1 Saint Peter thre-w his celestial gates apart, 

Wliile his face grew^ considerably brighter. 
He was glad from the bottom of his heart 

To receive the soul of a distinguished fighter. 
With an angelic voice his honor observed. 

That lie was glad to receive their souls, 
That he had seats for them reserved. 

That thej could enter free of tolls. 

XXI 

Full at McCulloch Pizarro's weapon was tost, 

But ere the javelin reached its aim 
Its tremendous force the weapon lost, 

And harmless by McCulloch's side it came. 
The disappointed Mexican his saber dreAV, 

While his hot blood dashes through his vein. 
Like lightning at McCulloch flew. 

But McCulloch stretched him on the plain. 

XXII. 

"Hold, sir, I am dead," PizaiTO cries, 

"A dead man needs not a second blow; 
'Tie noble, generous, kind, and very wise. 

To forgive (when at your feet) a fallen foe." 
McCulloch thrust liis sword in the sheath. 

His breast was to scenes of sorrow steeled, 
But at this awful scene of blood and death 

The brave warrior, wanting courage, reeled. 

XXIII. 

His eyes with big drops of pity filled. 

His eyes from the dying Pizarro withdrew; 
'Twas painful to gaze on blood he had spilled. 

So he plunged amid the carnage anew. 
Young Colona engaged with Lieutenant Pope, 

They with a deathly stare on each other gaze, 
Then hand to liand both young heroes cope; 

High in air each ponderous weapon raise. 



StEGE OF MONTEREY. 93 

XXIV. 

Which glisten bright in tlie morning sun. 

Then at each otlier's heads their javelins hurled. 
Dull time is now with Colona done. 

For Pope sent him to an eternal world. 
Around Pope many fresh Mexicans close, 

And each moment seemed to be his end; 
But swift now to his assistance goes 

Major Allen, to rescue his devoted friend. 

XXV. 
At Gozaveno's head brave Allen fired. 

Which took effect near his eyes. 
And Gozaveno instantly fell and expired, 

Grasping the sod with his nails as he dies. 
Then Allen with Petrucio in a struggle joins; 

Allen shot Petrucio through the breast, 
Petrucio shot Allen tlirough the loins — 

Allen falls — Petrucio goes to endless rest. 

XXVI. 
Don Alphonso hurled his sharp-pointed lance 

Full at Captain Taylor's courageous heart; 
Between his arm and breast did the weapon glance. 

Tearing his vest from the hero's breast apart. 
Alphonso with deep mortification saw 

That his javelin was thrown in vain; 
Taylor dashed his saber through his maw 

And stretched him dying on the plain 

XXVII. 

From his breast Taylor wrenched his blade, 

As on the plain his dying foeman falls; 
His lashes met in death's everlasting shade. 

As o'er his cheek an ashy color crawls. 
Taylor gazed an instant on him dying, 

Seheld him close his eyes, and breathe his last. 
Then left him in his bed of gore lying. 

And then on to thicker carnage passed. 



94 SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 

XXVIII. 
The blood-stained banner mounts the breeze, 

And floats proudly o'er the bloody world; 
Like a proud sail floatinjr on the seas, 

His crimson wings sailed unfurled. 
Braajg's artillery like frowning heaven spoke. 

Wrapping both armies in smoky shades. 
Huge gaps in the reeling legions broke, 

And mowed them down by whole brigades. 

XXIX. 

The golden ea»le of victory flew 

As if in doubt on which side he should light, 
First one side then the other he drew, [fight. 

Waiting till proud fortune should decide the 
Now from the plain the Mexicans wheeled. 

In great confusion from the fight retreat, 
Then rally and charge again over the field, 

Disdaining to acknowledge themselves beat. - 

XXX. 

The carnage grows deadlier than before. 

They fill the air with their deafening cries 
As they fall all besmeared with gore, 

Never more on the earth below to rise. 
Broken skulls and scattered brains 

Lie in heaps as white as driven snows, 
While heaps of dead bodies strew the plains. 

From which blood in red oceans flows. 

XXXI. 

The Mexicans yield their ground by slow degrees; 

The Anglos charge with redoubled heat; 
The screams of frightened maids fill the breeze. 

Who dash with disheveled hair across the street. 
Their piteous yells float through the smoky air; 

They wring their hands and" tear their clieeks, 
Dashing through rivers of blood in deep despair. 

Filling the atmosphere with their groans and 
shrieks. 



SIEGE OF MOXTEEEY. 95 

XXXII. 
Isabel and Bibo might still be seen 

Riding along near each other's side, 
Where all day the fair maid had been, 

And fought through the thickest of the tide. 
Notwithstanding Bibo's earnest request 

That Isabel should from danger flee, 
"Drive me not from thy unshrinking breast, 

But let me fight and die with thee. 

XXXIII. 

"Leave not thine own Isabel alone behind, 

But let her thy many dangers share. 
And thou shalt in me a warrior find. 

Who shrinks not when her lover's there. 
I fear no danger when thou art near. 

Thy countenance drives away all my gloom; 
In thy presence I know no fear, 

I fear not, though death be my doom. 

XXXIV 
"To ride with thee, dear lord, is all I ask; 

Surely thou canst not my suit deny; 
In thine arms 'twould be a pleasing task 

To breathe out my life and die; 
'Twould rob death of all his woes. 

And turn all his stings to bliss. 
In those arms mine eyes to close 

And seal my passport with a kiss. 

XXXV. 

"Side bj side let us combat our foes. 

And m each other's arms let us die. 
And while our clay shall in blood repose. 

On wings of love we'll mount the sky. 
Our souls shall mount yon snowy cloud, 

Where each other's hot lips we shall kiss. 
And Jove shall crack his thunder loud. 

And waft us on to endless bliss.** 



96 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 



XXXVI. 

As she spoke angelic beauty filled her eyes, 

On Bibo such a persuasive look she cast: 
"Enough, enough, my angel," Bibo cries; 

"Ties of devotion, love, shall bind us fast. 
I cannot drive my guardian angel back; 

Then death may thick around us rain, 
The cannon roar, and the deadly rifle crack. 

And my country bleed free at every vein. 

XXXVII. 
"Thou shalt share my heart's deepest woe. 

And likewise partake of my liappiest bliss 
But ere we to the deadly carnage go 

We'll seal our vows with a tender kiss." 
And suiting his words to the action, 

Threw liis right arm round her side. 
And with a breast full of satisfaction 

Kissed the hot lips of his betrothed bride. 

XXXVIII. 

Instead of one kiss he took three or four; 

Tlie fair damsel made no show of resistance. 
But paid Iiim back witli twenty more. 

"Oh! liow sweet," quoth she, "here to end my 
existence; 
'Tis lieaven to gaze on this sweet lip of thine; 

'Tis as sweet to me as ambrosial meat; 
It hatli filled this swelling breast of mine 

Witli love divine and fervent heat. 

XXXIX. 

"On jny crimson lips thou shalt graze. 

And on valleys of grass and hills of snow; 
"When tired of this, then the curtains raise. 

And taste the limpid spring that is below; 
And in sunny climates thou shalt bask. 

And bathe thy limbs in unexplored seas. 
What more dare a poor mortal ask. 

Than such unparalleled gifts as these? 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 97 

XL. 

" 'Tis true, mounds of snow ■wall it roimd. 

And snowy beacons above it rise, 
Yet as warm is tlie climate found. 

As any beneath the southern skies. 
The sun, 'tis true, doth seldom on it show. 

Yet 'tis filled with warm and fervent heat; 
Beautiful shrubs around it always grow. 

Loaded with fruit that is divinely sweet. 

XLI. 
"I solemnly swear by the holy gods above. 

That untasted this fruit yet remains; 
And I further swear, that none but him I love 

Shall know the sweetness the tree contains. 
Marble walls surround this hidden tree. 

To attempt to enter no villain dare. 
For virtue always keeps the key. 

And lets no intruder enter there. 

XLII. 
"The walls are strong, the guards are bold. 

The gate liath been assaulted by many 
With tales of love and scores of gold, 

Tliough untasted yet it remains by any. 
As soon as the ceremony sliall be said, 

Which, thank heaven, shall shortly be. 
Which shall make us forever wed — 

Then thou shalt have this garden key." 

XLIII. 
"I accept thy goodly offer, Isabel," he cries; 

"This kiss our virtuous vows shall seal. 
And until this spirit in my bosom dies, 

I am thine own through woe or weal; 
But my bleeding country calls me now; 

I love my country well and must obey." 
They both mount their steeds, he kisses her brov. 

And side by side thiey dash swiftly away. 



yo SIEGE OF MOXTEREr. 

XLIV. 
Into the thickest of the carnacfc tliey ride, 

Pills of death rain around llie damsel fair. 
Yet she clings like a goddess to Bibo's side; 

Her features beauty and composure "wear, 
Notwithstanding a wound she had received 

In that tender alabaster thigh of hers; 
But no sign of a damsel grieved 

About her beauteous face appears. 

XLV. 
But "with composed mind and smiling face 

Views the balls of death around her fly, 
Resembling one of the bright ethereal race 

Floating along the shining portals of the sky. 
Govan sought to strike young Bibo dead, 

Aiming a thrust where the neck and shoulders 
meet; 
But Isabel lopped off Govan's head 

And felled liim dying near her feet. 

XLVI. 
His head drops off and rolls along the grass, 

The blood streams out with gurgling sound, 
Down the sloping hill does it pass, 

Leaving a bloody trail along the ground; 
His headless trunk rolls in his gore, 

As in convulsions he grasps the sod; 
He sinks tlien on earth to rise no more, 

His bloody soul winged its flight to God. 

XLVII. 
Col. Don Jose and the gallant Whiting, 

Whose deeds are well known to fame. 
Engaged hand to hand at single fighting — 

Jose did at Whiting's heart his saber aim, 
But Whiting knocked it from his hand. 

And in fragments along the ground it fell. 
Then felled him dying on the land. 

Who closed his eyes in the shades of hell. 



SIEGE OF MOXTEEEY. 99 

XLVIII. 

High in air Carabalial poised his blade. 

And at Bliss's heart the Aveapoii thrust; 
But Bliss wheeled and with his saber's aid 

Felled Carabalial bleeding in the dust; 
Bliss dashed his steel through his loins, 

Just where the hip and backbone meet, 
Tearing a passage through the hero's groins. 

Who dropped dead before Bliss's bloody feet. 

XLIX. 
Then from Carabahal's loins he drew his saber out: 

As he wrenched the saber from the wound. 
High above his head did the gore spout, 

And fell in big drops along the ground. 
Staining the flowers with a coat of red. 

As on their fragrant folds it falls. 
Carabahal's eyes sunk deep in his head, 

As an ashy paleness o'er his features crawls. 

L. 

As Bliss gazes on his dying foeman's face, 

Gozaveao, thinking it an excellent chance 
To end the immortal v/arrior's race. 

Hurled at his heart his iron-pointed lance. 
Between his arms and ribs the weapon went. 

Inflicting on him no serious hurt; 
And still another javelin Gozaveno sent, 

But, as the other, it fell harmless to the dirt. 

LI. 

Raging with anger, he drew his heavy blade, 

Like a tiger at Bliss he quickly flew; 
A tremendous thrust at his breast he made. 

But Bliss hacked his blade in two. 
Then he flung his hands high o'er his head — 

"To forgive a fallen foe is veiy magnanimous; 
Thou hast vanquished me," he said; 

'*To kill me now would be pusillanimous." 



100 SIEGK OF MONTEREY. 

LIL 

"Arise, sir," cried Bliss, in a plaintive voice; 

"I profess to be a man of honor, sir. 
Here, I have two sabers, so take thy choice. 

And we Avill end this combat here." 
As thus he spoke, he gave an imperative look; 

With a deathly stare Gozaveno also grins, 
From Bliss's hand one of the sabers took, 

And now the deadly combat begins. 

LIIL 
"With dire vengeance each warrior gazed, 

Each hero his country's deadly foe defies. 
Then their sabers high in air they raised. 

And at each other's vital part each hero flies. 
Gozaveno at Bliss's head made heavy blows. 

Bliss held his saber over his head. 
On which Gozaveno's ponderous weapon goes; 

Then Bliss struck Gozaveno instantly dead; 

LIV. 
Who fell along the blood-stained rocks. 

While his life-blood streams from every vein; 
As on the ground rolls a butchered ox, 

Gozaveno rolled bleeding along the plain. 
Bliss turns swift from the bloody sight. 

The rowels in his courser's flanks he sent. 
And i^lunged anew amid the fight. 

And strewed his path with gore as he went. 

LV. 
Through the Spanish ranks opens a gaping lane. 

Intercepted with heaps of bodies bleeding; 
The fuel of life oozing from every vein. 

While their souls are frojn earth receding; 
Some of them for timely assistance cry, 

Others cry for a draught of cooling water; 
Without a groan many others die; 

Others meet grim death like a Tartar. 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 101 

LYI. 

Proud Aurora begins to call in her ray 

And drives her chariot behind the west, 
Bidding darkness close the portals of day, 

And the bleeding warrior to sink to rest. 
The carnage is strewed with malice fresh. 

Blood pours down like falling rain; 
New heaps of brains, broken limbs, and flesli 

Lie scattered all along the slippery plain. 

LVIT. 

Doubt still hung over the bloody field. 
First one side, then the other she lights; 

First one side, then the other will yield- 
Hand to hand eveiy gallant hero fights. 

Curling smoke blackens all the skies. 
And livid fii'e brightens all beneath; 

Filled is the air with piteous cries. 

As the dying warriors yield their breath. 

LVIII. 
Now like a god Duncan dashes over the field, 

Brings his guns on the reeling foes to bear; 
Ampudia sees that his doom is sealed 

And his ranks sunk in deep despair; 
Death mounts on his unwelcome wings 

And flew swift from post to post; 
Around Ampudia's head his messenger sings — 

With despair he sees the day is lost, 

LIX. 
He wining his hands with mortification deep. 

He stamped his feet and tore his hair; 
Then hung his head and began to weep — 

His patriotic breast was full of deepest care. 
He loved his own country very dear. 

And fought hard to save the day — 
Many fresh troops now begin to appear 

Pouring do"Wii the streets of Monterey. 



102 SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 

LX. 

They, like a black cloud of locusts, pour 

In a solid phalanx down the street. 
Mowing down all foes that are before — 

"Death," they cry, "or Zack Taylor's defeat. 
Four thousand there were of this reserve. 

Men, too, of Mexico's bravest sort; 
The}-- were commanded not to serve, 

Until it came to the very last resort. 

LXI. 
Them with anxious eyes Taylor sees; 
A thousand baimers float on tlie breeze; 
Full half-a-mile in length they are, 
Which fills Taylor's heart with anxious care- 
Ranks on ranks move along the plain, 
Like waves dashing o'er the briny main; 
Like a supernatural being old Taylor stood 
And viewed the earth deluged in blood. 

LXIL i • 

On the fresh troops casts an anxious view. 
And with pain scans his bands so few, 
Wlio like gods of war await the charge — 
Numbers small but spirits large. 
The prevailing silence old Taylor broke, 
And thus to Major Bliss the hero spoke: 
"Hasten, swift as on an eagle's wing, 
Immortal Bragg to the combat bring. 

LXIII. 
"Be quick, no time should be lost. 
Our utter ruin will pay the cost." 
Bliss seizes the reins, dashes in the spurs, 
And like a comet through the sky appears; 
With Pegasus speed he dashes away — 
Thus to Captain Bragg did he say: 
"Hasten with thy guns to the plateau. 
Quick, or the day is won by the foe." 



SIEGE OK MOXTEREY. 103 

LXIV. 

He mounts the car and seizes the reins, 

And goes thundering across the pLiins; 

With bloody wheels and smoking steed 

Dashes on Avith furious speed. 

Now the tongue from the steeds he throws, 

And points his guns on his foes, 

Whose shouts roar like thunder in the south. 

As they advance to the cannon's mouth. 

LXV. 
Within twenty paces of the cannon came: 
"Ours is the victoiy," they cry; "ours be the 

fame." 
Bra^g lets off with thundering sound 
And a whole brigade kissed the ground; 
The first made them hesitate and stay; 
The second drove them back and saved the day. 



104 SIEGE OF MOXTEREY. 



CAN" TO VIII. 



I. 

"What is the meaning of such a brilliant light 
At old Pedro's magnificent dwelling? 

Something more than usual brewing to-night — 
It may be a wedding — there's no telling. 

Bibo was not killed in the last fight. 
And his breast with love was swelling 

For no one else but beauteous Isabel, 

Who, you already know, loved him well. 

II. 

Yes, 'tis a wedding, as I am living, 

That's the reason these lights are glowing; 

'Tis a feast old Pedro is giving, 

Or his delight to his children showing; 

For he was well versed in good living; 
His cellar with choice wines are flowing. 

Old Pedro was a man of excellent breeding — 

And thought it proper foryouths to go to seeding 

III. 
So he was now giving a splendid feast; 

He had killed for them the fatted calf; 
He had sent a messenger for a priest. 

To make Isabel Bibo's better half. 
The ceremony was over, all the bustle ceased, 

And all the guests began the wine to quaff; 
From goblet to goblet the nectar flew. 
From guest to guest went the brandy stew. 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 105 

IV. 

Dearly did Pedro love his dauglitor. 
And well, too, the old hero might. 

For many foes did she slaughter 
Daring the t-wo days' bloody fight. 

The loving sires had always taiignt her 
To do what she thought was right; 

And to his knowledge she had kept 

Her honored sire's virtuous precept. 

V. 

He loved her as he loved his life; 

It filled his soul with extatic joy 
To see her Bibo's honored wife. 

For he was a brave and noble boy; 
He had waded through carnage rife, 

Many a deadly foe did he destroy — 
Then he came of a very noble race, 
And then he had such a handsome face. 

VI. 
And he was such a moral young lad. 

He had been guilty of no bad tricks; 
In fact, he had never done anything bad, 

Neither was he ever known to mix 
"With any unworthy person who had; 

And his good deeds were very prolix — 
And then he had a very fine estate, 
Which is the best recommendation, of late. 

VII. 
**Take my child, my son," said he; 

"Takelier and use her always well; 
I freely bestow this hand on thee — 

'Tis the hand of mine own Isabel. 
A priceless gem, too, is she; 

The value whereof none can tell. 
Save the one who shall try it, 
None but thee, Bibo, shall spy it. 



106 SIESE OP MONTEREY. 

VIII. 

"I have many fat oxen slain, 

Many ducks and chickens killed^ 

And from the fat sheep's vein 
I Inave the life-blood spilled; 

jJTv casks of wine are full again. 
So let thy cup of joy be filled; 

Take my daughter, she is angelic. 

And will make thee a beauteous relic/* 

IX. 

At old Pedro's feet, Bibo falls, 
And clasps him round the knees: 

** 'Tis true, I liave filled ray nation's call. 
But looked not for such gifts as these." 

A smile of joy over his features crawls. 
As Isabel's beauteous face he sees. 

Which like an angel seemed 

As tears of joy from them streamed. 

X. 

"From thy liands, dear father, I receive her. 
And promise thee to use her right; 

I swear never will I deceive her, 

And until death shall close orrr sight 

May naught happen that will grieve her: 
And in heaven again may we unite; 

And while on this earth we live, 

Such as I have to her will I give." 

XI. 

The first thing on docket is the wedding. 
Then feasting, efsting, and drinking: 

Then the next., of course, is tlie bedding — 
And the balance we'll leave for thinking; 

For to be among such secrets treading 
Is too low in crime for me to be sinking. 

Tis a theme on whicli I shouldn't be writing- 

Fbr, I must acknowledge, it is very exciting. 



8IEGE OF MOXTERET. 107 

XII. 

Like an angel's garb "was Isabel's dressing; 

The rich appearance of her outer gown • 

Is beyond my power of expressing; 

And those lips which sweet nectar crown 
Make me feel at times very distressing. 

Then, oh! tliat sweet, angelic frown, 
Which, instead of looking amiss. 
Seemed to invite the ardent kiss. 

XIII. 

Stiif with starch were her other dressibles. 

As white as a lamb's fleecy wool; 
And then those spotless inexpressibles. 

Which stand in relief around her full. 
Which vails from view the inaccessibles. 

From which naught but love can pull. 
That which conceals the holy spot. 
Which thousands seek, but enter not. 

XIV. 
Her flowing gown was made of finest gauze. 

The color of which was transparent blue; 
And, according to the fashionable laws, 

A golden scarf she o'er her shoulders threw. 
On her very lip the dew-drop thaws. 

Such as feasts heaven's shining crew — 
*Tis ambrosial food, divinely sweet. 

The sweetest junket by man ever eat. 

XV. 

And then her glossy and luxuriant hair. 
Which hung carelessly in mazy coils 

Around that long neck so fair. 
All steeped in ambrosial oils, 

Floating like a raven's wing in air. 
At the sii!,ht of which our blood boils. 

Oil! what a heaven to gaze on her eyes— 

But paradise itself below them lies. 



108 SIEGE OF MOXTEKEY. 

XVI. 

The enjoyment of which is much s^vveeter 
, Than ever to mortals by bright angels given- 
The gate Avhich is kept by St. Peter, 

'Tis true, is a very blissful heaven, 
But 'twas more than heaven to tete-d-tete her — 

For which sin a man should be forgiven; 
From the temptation he cannot recover, 
But to see such an angel, is to dearly love her. 

XVII. 

Carelessly around her swelling loins 

Was a golden tassel neatly tied; 
In waving folds in front it joins 

And flows in tresses down her side — 
Diamonds thick and golden coins 

Adorn Bibo's young and angelic bride- 
Many rings on her fair fingers show. 
In which diamond studs brightly glow. 

XVIII. 
A pair of bobs of the brightest hue. 

Like two glittering gems, appear, 
Which were all studded with diamonds, too, 

And hung dangling from her ear; 
And then from her lashes peeping through 

Came gushing out a crystal tear 
And fell on that breast of snow. 
Coursing to the limpid spring below. 

XIX. 
They were not briny drops of bitter woe. 

But they were tears of unexpected joy; 
For she hoped soon to show 

To her lover the ivory entrance of Troy. 
Those crystal tears did only flow 

To show her love for the generous boy; 
She esteems him high, loves him dearly — 
Paradise was his, and heaven nearly. 



I 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 109 

XX. 

The blood coursed thick and fast 

Through Isabel's swelling vein, 
First leaving on her cheek a rosy cast. 

Then all was as white as snow again — 
Her eyes gaze around them at last, 

Stop and on Bibo's face remain; 
She cast on him a look so sweet 
That his blood boiled with fervent heat. 

XXI. 

Her skirts were trimmed with yellow lace. 
All worked with precious gems around. 

Hemmed below with golden brace. 
Such as is in Sacramento found; 

Her pantalets were buckled neat in place. 
And hung gracefully toward the ground, 

Displaying an ankle of exquisite mold, 

Covered with gaiters trimmed with gold. 

XXII. 
I dare not describe any further above. 

For that would be very outrageous. 
For, you know, the heaven of love 

Is always found very contiguous. 
And once Ave let our passions move 

Nothing but heaven can assuage us; 
And the art of describing passion 
Is uow-a-days out of fashion. 

XXIII. 
On her swelling breast the damsel wore 

A clasp of shining metal made — 
Fastening her snowy neck before 

With a strand of golden braid, 
"Whicli the portrait of her father bore. 

Neatly carved with artistic aid — 
Resting between those mounds of snow, 
As a beacon to the anchorage below, 



XtiJl SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 

XXIV. 
I'd like to be turned into a portrait 

And placed in a golden locket, 
If Isabel would carry me straight 

Into such a heavenly little pocket. 
Where sweet enchantments on it wait 

And glowing passions rock it. 
I'd give all that my purse has in it 
To rest in such a cradle a minute. 

XXV. 

Oh! how I'd like to be a little rose. 

From which the bee sweet nectar sips — 

When Lizzie put me to her nose 
I'd steal a kiss from her ruby lips, 

From which distilling dew always flows. 
Sweetening the atmosphere as it drips. 

'Tis sweeter than ambrosial nectar — 

As an angel of light do I respect her. 

xxvi; 

The fair damsel's under-skirt 

Was whiter far than sheets of ice, 

And not a single spot of dirt 

Stained its folds so clean and nice; 

Covering that which as yet was unliurt, 
Or stained by contamination or vice, 

Which lurking beneath them lies 

Like a hidden meteor in the skies. 

XXVII. 
A laurel wreath 'twined her brow. 

All gilt with scores of yellow gold, 
In which many shining metals show, 

Clasped in front with graceful fold; 
An apron as white as driven snow, 

Interwoven with fingers of exquisite mold. 
All stiff with many dazzling coins, 
Tied with a golden thong about her loins. 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. Ill 

XXVIII. 

Keatly fastened on each snowy wrist. 

Like bright phosphorus shining-, 
Appear three strands of golden twist. 

Her alabaster arm entwining, 
Which look like a gem as big as my fist. 

Beneath the sparkling water shining. 
With diamonds they were also stocked. 
And witli a golden clasp were neatly locked. 

XXIX. 

Thus equipped for the present occasion, 

Which of course was a marriage. 
According to the Catholic persuasion, 

Isabel stepped into the carriage. 
And without parade or hesitation 

Went to Chapel de Sainte Vierge, 
There to hear the ceremony &aid, 
Which should give access to Bibo's bed— 

XXX. 

And to what else I dare not mention. 
But to heaven itself, I should guess^ 

And perhaps to much dissension. 
Many quarrels, and much distress. 

The marriage ceremony was an invention 
For which we our God should bless--^ 

It heals our Woes and makes us happy. 

And makes little ones call us papa. 

XXXI. 

It supplies the world with population 
Without which we would be awful ; 

It does all this, beside it makes copulation 
A virtue, when under circumstances lawful. 

But thou must not commit absquatulation 
When the ceremony gives to thee a crawfuU; 

But always take thyself a rib, 

If thou wouldst feast iu heaven's crib. 



112 SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 

XXXII. 
If you don't God will damn you, 

And cut you off from liis glon'', 
Amidst Satan's ranks he'll cram you, 

To dwell in unending purgatory. 
And from earthly bli.ss it slams you ; 

Thou hadst better believe my story : 
'Tis true, I am a very passionate youth, 
But what I write is the holy truth. 

XXXIII. 
The priest assumed a very momentous look, 

As he before the fair couple stood. 
In his left hand he held his book, 

Then threw off his old monki.sli hood, 
Then a pinch of snuff his honor took, 

And sneezed as if 'twas veiy good ; 
Then the awful silence he broke. 
And thus to the candidate he spoke : 

XXXIY. 
" Take this fair maid by the hand," he cries, 

"And, mv son, as you value your life. 
Dost thou, l)efore God's all-seeing eyes. 

Swear to make her thy future Avife, 
And bow before the niler of the skies. 

To protect her through the world's bitter strife?" 
To which Bibo gave an affectionate nod, * 

And replied, " I will, so help me God." 

XXXV. 
" So far," says the priest, " all is very w^ell ;" 

Then leaning on his crooked staff, 
"Wilt thou, my daughter Isabel, 

Agree to be young Bibo's better lialf ? 
If so, we'll ring the token bell, 

And the consecrated nectar quaff." 
To which the fair damsel thus replied: 
" Until I die I am Bibo's constant bride." 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. Il3 

XXXVI. 

Then the ceremony was instantly ended. 
Which made Isabel and Bibo one. — 

The priest then knelt and recommended 
Them to God, the Father and the Son; 

To Him, who for our sake descended, 
And aided us all Satan's poAvers to shun. 

He prayed high heaven to protect 'em. 

And wlieu they died, in gloiy to expect 'em. 

XXXVII. 
Then to old Pedro's dwelling they returned, 

Where was all that could be had for money, 
Or by any hand-labor earned, 

And everything which looked funny. 
Large chancleliers o'er the table burned, 

All kinds of cake, rare fruits, and lioney, 
Lay scattered about in great profusion, 
While sparkling wine flowecf in great effusion. 

XXXVIII. 

In the center sat two towering stacks of butter. 
One built in the shape of an Egyptian tower. 

The other shaped like a Revenue Cutter; 
A large statue, made of seasoned flour. 

Represented the portrait of Captain Suter; 
Sweet nectar flowed in a copious shower. 

Like malt from a 'stiller's gutter. 

On the lower end stood a large banana. 

Representing the bust of Santa Ana. 

XXXIX. 

Isabel sat at the foot, Bibo at the head. 
The guests in rows occupy the side; 

The priest then rose and a blessing said, 
Then took his seat by tlie lovely bride. 

They passed tlie wine and broke the bread. 
While joys on wings of love around them ride. 

And heaven with all was blended: 

And now the wedding-feast is ended. 



114 SIEGE OF MONTEBET. 

XL. 

The last notes of music now expired, 

The bed was made, the sheets were spread, 

The guests all b(.»wed and then retired, 
Leaving Bibo to enter the nuptial bed; 

But what further then transpired 
Dare not by niy lips or pen be said; 

So, you see, here I am bound to quit, 

*Tis dangerous to go further with my wit — 

XLL 

I will leave the remainder for supposing, 

As I dare not liere express it, 
But when twiliglit is around us closing, 

We are at liberty then to caress it; 
And when on our pillows dozing, 

'Tis no serious crime to press it: 
And, by the by, I beg leave to mention. 
That it was an unparalleled invention. 

XLIL 
All now being wrapped in silence deep. 

In Isabel's embrace young Bibo lies, 
But such a thought, as quiet sleep. 

Had not entered his brain or sealed his eyes; 
But his straying hand seemed to keep 

Guard around the blissful prize. 
He seized opportunity by the wing, 
And swore wedlock was a happy thing, 

XLIII. 

No living individual, who is wise. 
Would let presented heaven slip. 

And when in such snowy arras he lies 
He's very apt to press the rosy lip; 

And once possessed of the hidden prize. 
Has a right the sweet nectar to sip. 

All this it is his privilege to possess. 

And many others, wliich you may easily guess. 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. Il5 

XLiy. 

I cannot say "what was the reason, 

Why the young groom was n't sleeping, 

For it was then the usual season 

When Morpheus comes o'er us creeping; 

But Bibo was taking his ease on 

His pillow, and with joy his bride was weeping. 

She was drunk with the presented bliss 

Her lips made one long extended kiss. 

XLY. 
Her eye with extatic delight was blazing, 

And his was full of unparalleled joy, 
For he was tlien engaged at grazing 

On the inner riches of her Troy; 
With sweet kisses her lips he was glazing, 

And feasting on those eyes so coy — 
While her bosom with love was swelling 
Bibo took possession of Cupid's dwelling. 

XLVI. 
Such a heaven is Cupid's little field. 

For he has camps like heroes of fame. 
And often keeps his phalanx concealed 

'N^eath the eyes of such a beauteous dame; 
He sometimes keeps his bow and shield 

In the port of , I forget the name. 

And when we least expect the little wizard, 
He sends his arrow through our gizzard. 

XLYII. 
As blind as a bat, too, is he — 

He often hides among budding roses, 
At mischief he's always busy, 

'Neath gowns, scarfs, and josies; 
And behind the sparkling eye of Lizzie 

The little villain now reposes; 
One day he flew out and shot me, 
And in his coils at length has got me. 



116 SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 

XLVIII. 

For a long time I bravely fought him 
Every time I went there he met me, 

And when my vanquished foe I thought him, 
His rosy dart completely upset me; 

So then a flaj^ of truce I brought him, 

And agreed to be his prisoner, if he'd let me. 

His terms of peace were, that I should 

Marry: I agreed to do so, if I could. 

XLIX. 
The articles of capitulation Avere then signed, 

Thus I was at length overcome by Cupid, 
And to his shrine all my liberty resigned, 

And ever since I have felt very stupid ; .«• 
But 'tis not very loathsome I find. 

When I drink from her eye such heavenly fluid; 
'Tis true, liberty is a very glorious blessing, 
But to feast at beauty's shrine is not distressing. 

L. 

But I must get back to Bibo and his bride, 
Lest your patience I might lumber — 

In each other's arms they were tied — 

Their eyes closed at length in sweetest slumber. 

Her dewy lips in rosiest colors dyed — 
His arms her slender waist encumber; 

Their hot lips breathed to time exactly, 

Tlieir bosoms were pressed compactly. 

LI. 
For close to his heart Bibo held the maid, 

At least she was one before the marriage, 
And naught sliall by me be said 

Her virtue at all to disparage; 
Ne'er had she from honor strayed, 

Old Pedro liad been wise in lier rearage. 
For to stray was a thing he never let her 
"Where temptation was likely to beset her. 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. H7 

LII. 

Her virginity vtsls then beyond dispute, 

No stain was ever cast upon her. 
Save one single slanderous repute 

Uttered by the base tongue of Conner, 
For ■which Bibo challenged liim to shoot. 

According to the ancient laws of honor. 
To which Gusto Conner consented. 
For which he soon afterward repented. 

LIII. 
Bibo was very destructive in a duel, 

No better aim could any man take. 
He gave Conner his merited gruel, 

For he shot him through the pancake, 
"Which extinguished life's final fuel. 

Conner Avent to fill Satan's mandate. 
Quoth Satan: " Why here, thou insolent gander?" 
" Why, said Conner, I was sent here for slander!" 

LIV. 
**The reason is good, please your honor, 

I wish to inquire who you are ?" 
" My name, sir, is Don Gusto Conner, 

Sent here for slandering the fair, 
And tlie young lady's husband is the donor 

Of the many bitter sores I bear; 
The doom is just for which I came, 
For I slandered an innocent dame." 

LV. 
Old Nick threw up his hands with awe, 

" 'Tis then my painful but imperative duty 
To explain to thee the rigid law. 

Which holds sacred tlie shrine of beauty." 
Thus saying, he raised his iron paw 

And crooked his tail, all black and sooty. 
Into Conner's soul did his clutches go. 
As he hurled him to the burning pit below. 



118 SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 

LVI. 

And as Conner's soul downward fell, 
Satan grinned with vengeance dire — 

There all slanderous wretches dwell. 
In the lake of unquenchable fire. 

To expiate in the liquid flames of hell. 
Always dyin^ yet never to expire. 

Tlie decree hath from heaven sprung. 

That hell is the place for a slanderous tongue. 

LVII. 
For Bibo's arrest a warrant was issued. 

For taking the life of a fellow being; 
Then close in a dungeon he was screwed: 

It was so dark lie had no chance of seeing- 
The dungeon is nothing but a prelude 

To a criminal's final decreeing. 
Bibo waited for his trial with patience, 
"Which was only set three days hence. 

LVIII. 
The court met according to adjournment. 

His honor, old Don Judge Bustamentus, 
"Was then holding his law attornment, 

Who put on a look exceedingly momentous; 
Before which Bibo with stern countenance went — 

From such tribunals heaven defend us! 
Judge Bustamentus then rose and said: 
" Let Bibo have his accusation read." 

LIX. 
Which was to the following effect — 

That is, as near as I can quote it; 
I slian't swear that I am precisely correct. 

But as near as I could, line for line, I wrote it: 
And if there is anything wrong, I expect, 

That I myself shall have to tote it; 
So let us get to work betimes, 
And see how a bill looks in rhymes. 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 119 

LX. 

The prosecutor of the impartial ]^Tys 

Broke silence, and tlius he begnC, 
As the bill of indictment out he draws: — 

"Are thy preparations for trial done ? 
If so, I'll read the accusation clause 

Of the State against lier son. 
'Tis a true bill for willful murder; 
The punishment is a pair of posts and a girder. 

LXI. 

" Tamaulipas, November the tenth day, 

In the year of our blessed Jesus, 
(That is, since he from heaven did stray, 

(Oh, heavens! how the spectators squeeze usf) 
To drive sin from the world away. 

And who now from heaven sees us). 
(' Mr. Sheriff, please me a little toddy mix') — 
Eighteen hundred and forty-six. 

LXII. 
*' The Grand Jury upon their oaths do present — 

That, not having the fear of God before his eyes; 
That Bibo, nor fearing the ruler of tlie firmament. 

And defyini' the power of the mighty skies. 
Being tempted by the king of endless torment, — 

With a deadly pistol of uncommon size. 
Charged with powder and one leaden bullet. 
Did put his finger on the trigger and pull it. 

LXIII. 
"Of the value of six dollars, or more. 

Six inches in length, more or less, at least. 
As large as a stick of candy in bore. 

Held at and upon said Gusto, the deceased, 
A huge hole through his dinner tore, 

Whose breathing then and there ceased — 
Inflicting in his abdomen such a hole 
As to extract his unforgiven soul; 



120 SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 

LXIV. 

" Wliich came tlirough the hole a-poking, 
And mounted to the realms of space. 

And sailed through the air a smoking. 
Till it anchored at a hellish place — 

Which, to saj the least, ^N'ithout joking. 
Is an unparalleled and bloody case — 

And other wrongs did there and then, 

By drawing blood and killing men. 

LXV. 

"Against the peace and dignity of the State — 
Against the statute made and provided; 

And that this youth should lose his pate — 
Should be by your honor how decided: 

Upon a venire now, at any rate, 
For his trial he has been invited. 

Thus, my accusation, is already through — 

For proof, I s'pose, one liundred men will do." 

LXVI. 

The jury was summoned and Bibo tried. 
And guilty too the youtli was found 

Of willful and base homicide; 

Then was close in a dungeon bound; 

None were admitted but his lovely bride 
The marks of many a glorious wound 

Still hung to Bibo's youthful side 

Received in many a battle tide. 

LXVII. 
Bibo again was dragged before the court 

To hear the judge pronounce his sentence. 
In his right hand the judge held his report. 

While he assumed a look of vast importance. 
As if heaven, earth, and everything, in short. 

Hung on each word that from his lips went hence, 
He assumed a look of great judicial gravity; 
Bibo wore a look of genteel suavity. 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 121 

LXVIII. 

" The laws, Bibo, demand thy Avretched life, 
'Tis my painful but imperative duty, 

Wliifh fills my soul "with painful strife, — 
To pass sentence on so much beauty; 

Thou must die — and leave thy lovely wife — ^^ 
Fur a crime which is so black and sooty — 

To-morrow thy head shall lifeless roll — 

iiay lieaven have mercy on thy soul!" 

LXIX. 

Bibo listened with nerves unshaken. 

To the pronunciation of his awful doom; 

Then was back to his dungeon taken, 

And chained to the floor of a filthy room — 

So soon as the early morn should awaken. 
To be carried from prison to his tomb. 

Tlio.so hands Avhich many a wound had made 

Were now with clanking chains arrayed. 

LXX. 

'i'liat arm which had used a saber well 
In his beloved country's righteous cause, 

Before which many a deadly foe had fell, 
Wliich had bravely defended her laws. 

Must now be chained in a dungeon cell. 
For no other crime than because 

He fought in defense of his honored wife. 

And wiped out her shame with a villain's life. 

LXXI. 

Oh, ye ungrateful nation! is thisthe way. 
You pay the debt of gratitude you owe. 

To the youth who fought many a day. 
And slaughtered of Mexico many a foe— ^ 

He whose blood has drenched your clay. 
Which freely from his breast did flow, 

And make a widow of a damsel fair. 

Who too with him fought bravely there? 



122 SIEGK OF MONTEREY. 

LXXII. 

The maid whose blood had freely flown, 
On Monterey's dangerous and bloody plain, 

Must she now be left all alone. 

Never to see her brave young love again ? 

Is tliis the way thy gratitude is shown 
To those that bled free at every vein? 

Yes, the laws demand young Bibo's life. 

And Isabel must be a widowed wife! 

LXXIII. 

Poor youth, I deeply sympathize with thee; 

Thy anguish full-well have I known; 
I have sailed across many a troubled sea, 

And on the black wings of woe have I flown; 
Fortune hath played many a trick with me. 

The gulf of deep despair before me thrown. 
But kind Providence hath carried me through. 
And I hope he'll do the same with you. 

LXXIV. 
Silvery Cynthia mounts her shining car. 

And drives swift across the quiet blue. 
Through Bibo's window made of many a bar; 

Her struggling beams proud Cynthia threw. 
And drove the dusky vapors of night afar, 

Revealing the dirty walls to Bibo's view. 
Big drops of woe fall from his eyes, 
As on his filthy bed young Bibo lies. 

LXXV. 

He lies there on his bed — not to sleep, 
But his sad condition to mourn and wail. 

Like an infant doth the young hero weep; 
His eyes are sunk deep, his cheeks are pale, 

He prays heaven his soul to keep. 
When it shall leave this bark so frail. 

He feared not through the vale of death to go. 

But to leave Isabel filled him with woe. 



SIKGK OF MONTEREY. 133 

LXXVI. 

Full half the night had rolled around, 
Bibo lies stretched on his filthy bed; 

At length he is sleeping sweetly sound, 
His eyes closed deep in his wearied head, 

♦V^ith emotions of bliss his mind was crowned; 
"Arise, dear Bibo," a voice angelic, said; 

Bibo sprang to his feet with a ghastly stare. 

For hi^ beauteous bride stood l^fore nim there. 

LXXVII. 

He threw open his arms in sweet surprise; 

Come to tliese arms my own Isabel — 
"How didst thou, my bride," he cries, 

" Gain access to this, ray lonely cell." 
Thus to him the fair dame replies — 

"To save thy life I would enter the gates of hell ; - 
From the Provost I have stole the key, 
And have come now to let my lover free. 

LXXVIII. 
" Think'st thou, my love, that I 

Could rest on a (iowny couch of ease 
When mv lord is condemned to die? 

Here. Bibo, are all the prison keys, 
Take them and quick from danger fly 

To some safe retreat beyond the seas. 
There let us in peace and safety dAvell, 
Where 'tis no crime to love thee well." 

LXXIX. 

"But my hands are chained," he cries, 

"And heavy irons bind my feet." 
The fair maid to him thus replies. 

With that tone of hers so divinely sweet, 
And while tears rolled from her eyes, 

"I have everything ready for thy retreat;" 
As her countenance brightened with a smile, 
She drew from her pocket a ponderous file. 



J34 SIEGE OF MOXTEREr. 

LXXX. 

She filed the chain from his wrist, 
Then released his ankle of its chain, 

Tlien his burning lips the damsel kissed, 
While his tears fall on her breast like rain; 

" Be quick, Bibo, or all is lost. Hist! 

I hear the cock crow, daylight is up again.' 

Bibo clasps his bride near his heart, 

"Another kiss, Isabel, before we part." 

LXXXI. 
" Mv lips are free to thee," she cried, 

"!Feed on them as much as you please, 
But I fear thou'lt find them dried. 

For my brain hath been ill at ease; 
Graze on' the future, the field is wide. 

And when thou art tired of these. 
Just hoist the curtains with a kiss. 
And anchor in the arbor of endless bliss. 

LXXXII. 

A long lingering kiss, then Bibo fled. 
Making his escape through the iron door. 

Leaving the beauteous dame apparently dead, 
Lying prostrate on the prison floor; 

Her' eyes were sunk deep in her lieael, 
An ashy color crawled her features o'er. 

Bibo overpowered the guard by main force. 

And for a foreign nation bent his course. 

LXXXIII. 
He soon arrived at the city of Camargo, 

And got aboard the steamer Captain Putter, 
Then straight to Brazos did from there go^ 

Then took passage -on a small revenue cuttei;; 
Cotton-bales constituted all her cargo. 

Save about forty-five- firkins of butter. 
And a few delegates to a foreign convention. 
And many little articles too tedious to mention. 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 125 

LXXXIY. 

Blbo ascended the high towering mast 
To catch a glimpse of the receding shore; 

Full ^vell he knew 'twou'd be his last, 
Ff»r he dare not set foov. on it any more. 

" Fare-thee-well, my happy days are past; 
Adieu, ye lands which hath drank my gore. 

Anil oh, Isabel, a sweet farewell to thee. 

And those orange groves where you sat with ine. 

LXXXV. 

"Adieu, ye sparkling brooks and flowing rills; 

Adieu to you, ye sweet sunny bowers, 
Ye snowy mountains and towering hills, 

Golden sands and fragrant floAvers, 
Frowning Misfortune without mercy wills 

That I on a foreign shore should spend my 
liours." 
The shore now vanished from Bibo's view. 
And nothing he sees but the briny blue. 

LXXXVI. 

His brain grew dizzy, his nerves grew weak. 
He let go his hold and fell against the deck. 

Tearing a piece of skin from his cheek. 
And very near dislocating his neck. 

Mashing perfectly flat his Roman beak; 
Upon the whole he was a complete wreck. 

Breaking a pair of ribs and his left arm. 

And doing his pate some very serious harm. 

LXXXVII. 
The white-bellied sails are now unfurled. 

Spreading their wings before the balmy breeze; 
The ship glides along the briny world. 

As the proud keel ploughs the rolling seas. 
The breeze fills Avith the sailors' jolly song, 

As they skip like birds from mast to mast; 
Like an eagle the ship glides along. 
And the shores are all vanished at last. 



126 SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 

LXXXVIII. 

Oil his couch of pain Bibo in agony lies; 

Xo Isabel to share his bitter woes — 
No fair young bride, from whose eyes 

The tear of syuipatLy always ior Iiiui flows, 
But on the watery Avorid, all/all alone, 

Tossed like a cork on the rolling sc-a; 
Bound for shores to him unknown, 

As miserable he was as man could be. 

LXXXIX. 
The fowls have nests in which to dwell; 

The wild fox hath his secluded cove, 
A breast which will for them swell 

With devoted friendsliip and ardent love; 
But he who hath fought through many a plain, 

And waded through oceans of freemen's blood, 
Xow rolls neglected on the briny main, 

Tossed at the mercy of the fathomless flood. 

XC. 
Full twenty d^.ys at length rolled ro-nid, 

And Bibo's wounds got much better; 
The ship anchored in London's Sound; 

Bibo dispatched Isabel the following letter — 
•' London, January the twenty-first day. 

In the year eighteen hundred and forty-seven; 
Dear Isabel, I drop you a line by w:iy 

Of informing you I am well, thank lieaven. 

XCI. 
"Start not, my dear, with surprise and alanii. 

For what I write I assure thee is no joke, 
I have had two of my ribs and one arm, 

And (I'd like to have said), my neck broke; 
But my neck was not broke in two. 

But one of my arms and two ribs were; 
I have purchased a residence for you. 

And I want you to meet me here. 



SIEGE OF monti:rey. 127 

XCII. 

" We shall be as liappy here as heart can ^vish; 

We shall dwell near a sparkling little creek, 
Where every day Ave can play, frolic and fisli, 

And go to a cotillion at least once a week; 
We can do otlier things if Ave should please, 

Which 'twould'nt become me here to write — 
Such things as are apt to ahvays please. 

An amorous young damsel's appetite. 

XCIII. 
"Come quick, my sweet bride, I am perfectly frantic 

With pure and undefiled love for thee. 
Hasten, and let not the briny Atlantic 

Separate my beauteous bride from me. 
Come, love, I know thou canst not refuse — 

I sign myself yours in love and purity; 
Tliou liadst better come by Vera Cruz, 

And we shall live happy in futurity. 

XCIV. 
" Thy affectionate and devoted lord, Bibo, 

To his new-made bride and beloved Isabel, 
For Avhose sake, and none else, would I go 

Through the iron gates of a burning hell." 
Isabel received and answered Bibo's note, 

Telling him he might soon expect her; 
Old Pedro took her to Canmrgo, put her on a boat. 

And gave her two servants to protect lier. 

XCY. 
He gave her a goodly share of his money. 

And many presents and trappings fine; 
Several casks well filled with honey. 

And two or three filled with wine. 
"Go," quoth Pedro, "Isabel, to thy lover's arms 

He hath a brave and generous heart; 
He hath well earned thy heavenly charms; 

Hell itself shall not tear you apart. 



128 SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 

XCVI. 

'' 'Twas for thy sake he steeped him in crime, 

And sent down to hell Gusto Conner; 
Go vrith thy lord to a foreign clime. 

And bless him who fought for thine honor. 
Let liim do unto thee as seemeth good. 

And thou return to him the same; 
Feed him on thine ambrosial food, 

And lieaven shall bless tlxee, beauteous dame. 

XCVIT. 
'' Recollect the advice thv sire gave thee. 

Put thy trust in the ruler of the sky; 
Ask him to vouchsafe to save thee, 

And receive your soul when you die. 
And now, adieu, forever, my little daughter; 

One kiss ere we part to meet no more, 
Then to dwell far across tlie briny water, 

Among strangers, on an unknoAvn shore." 

XCVI II. 
She took an affectionate leave of her parent, 

And set sail for lands to her unknown; 
Her eyes filled with a streaming torrent. 

As she bade a long adieu to her own. 
The evening of the twentieth day, ere 'twas night. 

Just as twilight began to cover the skies. 
The toAvering domes of London hove in sight. 

Then in Bibo's anxious arms his lover lies, 

XCIX. 
Thev were as happy as a pair of liearts could be; 

Tliey met with an embrace and a tender kiss. 
Then she gave him heaven's secret key. 

And he entered the shining courts of bliss, 
Bibo built a cottage in a secluded spot, 

Surrf>unded with many fragrant bowers; 
And when the summer's sun was liot, 

'Xeath these groves they spent the liappy hours. 



SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 129 

C. 

Althouo;!! an exile from liis native shore, 
On wiiieli he dare not show his face, 

Where lie had spilled his gallant gore, 

And bravely defended liis ungrateful race; 

Yet many Ixappy hours were in store 
For Hiho, in Isabel's sweet embrace; 

He spent the long days in her snowv. anns, 

And tlie dusky hours of night in lasting charms. 

CT. 
Bibo's cup of joy was now full to the veiy V>rim, 

Blessed with a beauteous and lovely wife, 
Wliose thought was of him, and onlv him, 

For slie loved him as she did her life, 
And h»mored liim in his every Avhim, 

And never engaged in disgraceful strife; 
And to crown his unexpected joy, 
Isalx'l gave birth to a beauteous boy. 

CII. 
AVIiich set Bibo's brain in a perfect whirl, 

Witli pure love and paternal delight; 
Thougii he wished it had been a girl, 

Yet his eyes Avith joy were exceedingly bright. 
He asked the midwife "if his hair did curl, 

And was his comjilexion very white;" 
To which inquiry, she answered "yes;" 
"There's no doubt but he's mine then, I guess. 

CUT. 
Old Zebonezer died with the cramp-colic; 

Assistance came, but 'twas entirely too late; 
He caught cold at a national frolic. 

Which inflamed his bowels, chest and pate. 
He made his confession as becomes a Catholic, 

Then willed Bibo all his vast estate. 
Here's a correct ct>py of his testament and codicil, 
I'll swear to its correctness, please God I will. 



|30 SIEGE OF MONTEREY. 

CIV. 

" In the name of Aliniglity God. Amen, 

I, Zebonezer, being in bad health, thank God, 

That God who made us sinful men, 
After his own image from the sod, 

Knowing my end is nigh, seize my pen. 
With due reverence kiss the holy rod, 

Vrrite this, my testament and Avill, 

And attach below my written codicil. 

CV. 
" First bequeathing my soul to the most high, 

To that Allwi.se God who gave it; 
And when in the cold grave 1 sliall lie, 

I hope he'll condescend to save it. 
Knowing, as I do, I must shortly die. 

My God, give me courage to brave it, * 
And upon the wliole, and in short meter. 
May my soul find acceptance with St. Peter. 

CVI. 
"I bequeath my lands, hereditaments and tene 
ments, 
Mesuages, dwellings, appurtenances and lus- 
cious fruits. 
Twenty thousand dollars and twenty cents. 
Beside one law and three chancery suits. 
Which may be gained without impediments; 

My shield, sword and military boots; 
And my dying wishes for a long and happy life 
To my beloved son Bibo and his lovely wife." 

CVII. 
Thus Don Zebonezer brought his will to a close. 

Then laid down his pen, turned to and died; 
Many a tear of sorrow around him flows; 

But soon all cheeks again were dried; 
For once in the grave, both friends and foes, 

Lay their love and hate all aside. 
Ere the Mortal clay begins to rot, 
His memory is by friends and foes forgot. 



SIEGE OF MONTEBET. 131 

CVIII. 

Bibo now built a very spacious hall, 
For he now had plenty of persuasive gold ; 

Silver burnished was his polished wall; 
Servants he had witli numbers untold; 

Notwithstanding he had drank his share of gall, 
His ci'.p of bliss was as full now as it cfjuldhold; 

His sitting chair was a fine self-propeller; 

Choice wines filled his spacious cellar. 

CIX. 
Now, reader, I am about to bring this to a close, 

I hope we shall part on the square and level; 
I hope tliis has not made us foes; 

But if you dout like it, just go to the devil. 
I like very Avell to scribble poetry and jirose. 

And I am fond of fun, frolic and revel. 
I acknowledge I am at times veiy unruly, 
But when I (lo wrong I regret it truly. 

* * * * * 

If ycu dislike to be with my nonsense crammed, 
Whj' just throw it down and be damned. 



THE END. 




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